X 




■*>^ 



SATAISrSTOE. 



SATANSTOE; 



THE LITTLEPAGE MAIS'USORIPTS. 



A TALE OF TEE COLONY, 



J. FENIMORE COOPER. 



"The only amaranthine flower on earth 
Is virtue : the only treasure, truth." 

Bpensee. 



NEW YORK: 
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 

5 4 9 & 5 1 B ROADWAY. 
1873. 




f3 



Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 18C0, by 

W. A. TOWNSEND AND COMPANY, 

III the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New To.U 









no 




PREFACE. 



Every clironicle of manners has a certain value-. 
When customs are connected with principles, in their 
origin, development, or end, such records have a double 
importance ; and it is because we think we see such a 
connection between the facts and incidents of the Little- 
page Manuscripts, and certain important theories of our 
own time, that we give the former to the world. 

It is perhaps a fault of your professed liistorian, to 
refer too much to philosophical agencies, and too little 
to those that are humbler. The foundations of great 
events are often remotely laid in very capricious and 
nncalculated passions, motives, or impulses. Chance 
has usually as much to do with the fortunes of states, as 
with those of individuals ; or, if there be calculations 
connected with them at all, they are the calculations of 
a power superior to any that exists in man. 



We had been led to lay these manuscripts before the 
world, partly by considerations of the above nature, and 
partly on account of the manner in which the two 
works we have named, " Satanstoe " and the " Chain- 
bearer," relate directly to the great 'New York question 
of the day, aj^ti-eej^tism ; which question will be found 
to be pretty fully laid bare, in the third and last book 
of the series. These three works, which contain all the 
Littlepage Manuscripts, do not form sequels to each 
other, in the sense of personal histories, or as narratives ; 
while they do in that of principles. The reader will see 
that the early career, the attachment, the marriage, etc., 
of Mr. Cornelius Littlepage are completely related in 
the present book, for instance ; while those of his son, 
Mr. Mordaunt Littlepage, will be just as fully given in 
the " Chainbearer," its successor. It is hoped that the 
connection, which certainly does exist between these 
three works, will have more tendency to increase the 
value of each, than to produce the ordinary effect of 
what are properly called sequels, which are known to 
lessen the interest a narrative might otherwise have with 
the reader. Each of these three books has its own hero, 
its own heroine, and its own picture of manners, com- 
plete ; though the latter may be, and is, more or less 
thrown into relief by its pendants. 

We conceive no apology is necessary for treating the 



subject of anti-i'cntism with the utmost frankness. 
Agreeably to our views of the matter, the existence of 
true liberty among us, the perpetuity of the institutions, 
and the safety of public morals, are all dependent on 
putting down, wholly, absolutely, and unqualifiedly, 
the false and dishonest theories and statements that 
have been boldly advanced in connection with this 
subject. In our view, New York is, at this moment, 
much the most disgraced state in the Union, notwith- 
standing she has never failed to pay the interest on her 
public debt ; and her disgrace arises fi'om the fact that 
her laws are trampled underfoot, without any eflbrts, 
at all commensurate with the object, being made to 
enforce them. If words and professions can save the 
character of a community, all may yet be well; but 
if states, like individuals, are to be judged by their 
actions, and the " tree is to be known by its fruit," 
God help us ! 

For ourselves, we conceive that true patriotism con- 
sists in laying bare every thing like public vice, and in 
calling such things by their right names. The great 
enemy of the race has made a deep inroad upon us, 
within the last ten or a dozen years, under cover of a 
spurious delicacy on the subject of exposing national 
ills ; and it is time that they who have not been afraid 
to praise, when praise was merited, should not shrink 



from the office of censuring, wlien the want of timely 
warnings may be one cause of the most fatal evils. 
The great practical defect of institutions like ours, is the 
circumstance that " what is everybody's business, is no- 
body's business ;" a neglect that gives to the activity of 
the rogue a very dangerous ascendency over the more 
dilatory correctives of the honest man. 




SATANSTOE. 



CHAPTER I. 

" Look yon, 
" VTlio conios heix; ; .1 young man, and nn oUl, in wlcinn talk." 

As Yon LIKE ;t. 

It is easy to foresee that tliis country is destined to undergo 
great and rapid changes. Those that more properly belong to 
history, history will doubtless attempt to record, and probably 
with the questionable veracity and prejudice that are apt to 
influence the labors of that particular muse ; but there is little 
hope that any traces of American society, in its more familiar 
aspects, will be preserved among us, through any of the agen- 
cies usually employed for such purposes. Without a stage, in 
a national point of view at least, with scarcely such a thing as a 
book of memoirs that relates to a life passed within our own 
limits, and totally without light literature, to give us simulated 
pictures of our manners and the opinions of the day, I see 
scarcely a mode by which the next generation can preserve any 
memorials of the distinctive usages and thoughts of this. It is 
true, they will have traditions of certain leading features of the 
colonial society, but scarcely any records ; and, should the next 
twenty years do as much as the last, toward substituting an 
entirely new race for the descendants of our own immediate 
fathers, it is scarcely too much to predict that even these tradi- 
tions will be lost in the Avhirl and exi itemcnt of a throng of 



10 6ATANSTOE. 

strangers. Under all the circumstances, tlicrcfore, I have come 
to a deteriuination to make an effort, however feeble it may 
prove, to preserve some vestiges of household life in New York, 
at least ; while I have endeavored to stimulate certain friends in 
New Jersey, and farther south, to undertake similar tasks in 
those sections of the country. What success will attend these 
last applications, is more than I can say ; but, in order that the 
little I may do myself shall not be lost for want of support, 1 
have made a solemn request in my Avill, that those who come 
after me will consent to continue this narrative, committing to 
paper their own experience, as I have here committed mine, 
down as low at least as my grandson, if I ever have one. 
Perhaps, by the end of the latter's career, they will begin to 
publish books in America, and the fruits of our joint family 
labors may be thought sufficiently matured to be laid before the 
world. 

It is possible that which I am now about to write will be 
thought too homely, to relate to matters much too personal and 
private, to have sufficient interest for the public eye ; but it 
must be remembered that the loftiest interests of man are made 
up of a collection of those that are lowly ; and, that he who 
makes a faithful picture of only a single important scene in the 
events of a single life, is doing something toward painting tho 
greatest historical piece of his day. As I have said before, the 
leading events of my time will find their way into the pages of 
far more pretending works than this of mine, in some form or 
other, with more or less of fidelity to the truth, and real events, 
and real motives; while the humbler matters it will be my 
office to record, will be entirely overlooked by writers who 
aspire to enrol their names among the Tacituses of former ages. 
It may be well to say here, however, I shall not attempt the 
historical mood at all, but content myself with giving the feel- 
ings, incidents, and interests of what is purely private life, con- 
necting them no farther with things that are of a more general 
nature, than is indispensable to render the narrative intelligible 
and accurate. With these cxjjlanations, Avhich arc made in 



SATANSTOE. 11 

order to prevent the person who may happen first to commence 
the perusal of this manuscript from throwing it into the fire, as 
a silly attempt to write a more silly fiction, I shall proceed at 
once to the commencement of my proper task. 

I was born on the 3d May, lV37, on a neck of land, called 
Satanstoe, in the county of Westchester, and in the colony of 
New York ; a part of the widely extended empire that then 
owned the sway of Ilis Sacred Majesty, George II., King of 
Great Britain, Ireland, and France ; Defender of the Faith ; 
and, I may add, the shield and panoply of the Protestant Suc- 
cession ; God bless him ! Before I say any thing of my parent 
age, I will first give the reader some idea of the locus in quo, 
and a more precise notion of the spot on Avhich I happened first 
to see the light. 

A "neck," in "Westchester and Long Island parlance, means 
something that might be better termed a "head and shoulders," 
if mere shape and dimensions are kept in view. Peninsula 
would be the true word, were we describing things on a geo- 
graphical scale ; but, as they arc, I find it necessary to adhere to 
the local term, Avhich is not altogether peculiar to our country, 
by the way. The " neck " or peninsula of Satanstoe, contains 
just four hundred and sixty-three acres and a half of excellent 
Westchester land ; and that, when the stone is hauled and laid 
into wall, is saying as much in its favor as need be said of any 
soil on earth. It has two miles of beach, and collects a pro- 
portionate quantity of sea-weed for manure, besides enjoying 
near a hundred acres of salt-meadow and sedges, that are not 
included in the solid ground of the neck proper. As my 
father. Major Evans Littlepage, was to inherit this estate from 
his father Captain Hugh Littlepage, it might, even at the time 
of my birth, be considered old family property, it having in- 
deed, been acquired by my grandfather, through his wife, about 
thirty years after the final cession of the colony to the English 
by its original Dutch owners. Here we had lived, then, near 
h^lf a century, when I was born, in the direct line, and consid- 
01 ably longer if we included maternal ancestors; here I now 



12 SATANSTOE, 

live, at tlic moment of writing these lines, and here I trust my 
only sou is to live after me. 

Before I enter into a more minute description of Satanstoe, it 
may be well, perhaps, to say a word concerning its somewhat 
peculiar name. The neck lies in the vicinity of a well-known 
pass that is to be found in the nan'ow arm of the sea that sepa- 
rates the island of Manhattan from its neighbor, Long Island, 
and which is called Hell Gate. Now, there is a tradition, that, 
I confess is somewhat confined to the blacks of the neighbor- 
hood, but which says that the Father of Lies, on a particular 
occasion, when he was violently expelled from certain roystering 
taverns in the New Netherlands, made his exit by this well- 
known dangerous pass, and drawing his foot somewhat hastily 
from among the lobster-pots that abound in those waters, leav- 
ing behind him as a print of his passage by that route, the 
Hog's Back, the Pot, and all the whirlpools and rocks that 
render navigation so difficult in that celebrated strait, he placed 
it hurriedly upon the spot where there now spreads a large bay 
to the southward and eastward of the neck, just touching the 
latter with the ball of his great toe, as he passed Down-East ; 
from which part of the country some of our people used to 
maintain he originally came. Some fancied resemblance to an 
inverted toe (the devil being supposed to turn every thing with 
Avhich he meddles, upside-down) has been imagined to exist in 
the shape and swells of our paternal acres ; a fact that has prob- 
ably had its influence in perpetuating the name. 

Satanstoe has the place been called, therefore, from time im- 
memorial ; as time is immemorial in a country in which civil- 
ized time commenced not a century and a half ago ; and 
Satanstoe it is called to-day. I confess I am not fond of unne- 
cessary changes, and I sincerely hope this neck of land will 
continue to go by its old appellation, as long as the House of 
Hanover shall sit on the throne of the^e realms ; or as long as 
water shall run and grass shall grow. There has been an 
attempt made to persuade the neighborhood, quite lately, that 
the name is irreligious and unworthy of an enlightened people, 



SATAN STOE. 13 

like this of Westcliester ; but it has met with no great success. 
It has come from a Connecticut man, Avhosc father they say is a 
clergyman of the '■'■ standing order;" so called, I believe, 
because they stand up at prayer ; and who came among us him- 
self in the character of a schoolmaster. This young man, I 
understand, has endeavored to persuade the neighborhood that 
Satanstoe is a corruption introduced by the Dutch, from Devil's 
Town ; which, in its turn, was a corruption from Dibbleston ; 
the family from which my grandfather's father-in-law purchased 
liaving been, as he says, of the name of Dibblee. He has got 
half-a-dozen of the more sentimental part of our society to call 
the neck Dibbleton ; but the attempt is not likely to succeed in 
the long run, as we are not a people much given to altering the 
language any more than the customs of our ancestors. Besides 
my Dutch ancestors did not purchase from any Dibblee, no such 
family ever owning the place, that being a bold assumption of 
the Yankee to make out his case the more readily. 

Satanstoe, as it is little more than a good fama in extent, so 
it is little more than a particularly good farm in cultivation and 
embelUshment. All the buildings are of stone, even to the 
hogsties and sheds, with well-pointed joints, and field walls 
that would do credit to a fortified place. The house is gener- 
ally esteemed one of the best in the colony, with the exception 
of a few of the new school. It is of only a story and a half in 
elevation, I admit ; but the rooms under the roof are as good 
as any of that description with which I am acquainted, and 
their finish is such as would do no discredit to the upper rooms 
of even a York dwelling. The building is in the shape of an 
L, or two sides of a parallelogram, one of which shows a front 
of seventy-five, and the other of fifty feet. Twenty-six feet 
make the depth, from outside to outside of the walls. The 
best room had a carpet, that covered two-thirds of the entire 
dimensions of the floor, even in my boyhood, and there were 
oil-cloths in most of the better passages. The buffet in the 
dining-room, or smallest parlor, was particularly admired ; and 
T question if there be, at this hour, a handsomer in the county. 



1 i S A T A K S T O E . 

The rooms wei'c well-sized, and of fail' dimensions, the larger 
parlors embracing the whole depth of the honse, with propor- 
tionate widths, while the ceilings were higher than common, 
being eleven feet, if we except the places occupied by the 
larger beams of the chamber tioors. 

As there Avas- money in the family, besides the Neck, and 
the Littlepages had held the king's commissions, my father 
having once been an ensign, and my grandfather a captain, in 
the regular army, each in the earlier portion of his life, we 
always ranked among the gentry of the county. We happened 
to be in a part of Westchester in which were none of the very 
large estates, and Satanstoe passed for property of a certain de- 
gree of importance. It is true, the Morrises were at Morrisania, 
and the Felipscs, or Philipses, as these Bohemian counts were 
then called, had a manor on the Hudson, that extended within 
a dozen miles of us, and a younger branch of the De Lanceys 
had established itself even much nearer, while the Van Cort- 
landts, or a branch of them, too, dwelt near Kingsbridge ; but 
these were all people who were at the head of the colony, and 
wdth whom none of the minor gentry attempted to vie. As it 
was, therefore, the Littlepages held a very respectable position 
between the higher class of the yeomanry and those who, by 
their estates, education, connections, official rank, and heredi- 
tary consideration, formed what might be justly called the aris- 
tocracy of the colony. Both my ftither and grandfather had 
sat in the Assembly, in their time, and, as I have heard elderly 
people say, with credit, too. As for my father, on one occa- 
sion, he made a speech that occupied eleven minutes in the 
delivery — a proof that he had something tp say, and which 
was a source of gi'eat, but, I trust, humble felicitation in the 
family, down to the day of his death, and even afterward. 

Then the military services of the family stood us in for a 
great deal. In that day it was something to be an ensign even 
in the militia, and a far greater thing to have the same rank in 
a regular regiment. It is true, neither of my predecessors 
served very long with the king's troops, my father in particu- 



SATANSTOE. 15 

!ar selliug out at the end of the second campaign ; but the mili- 
tary experience, and, I may add, the military glory each ac- 
quired in youth, did them good sen'ice for all the rest of their 
days. Both were commissioned in the militia, and my father 
actually rose as higli as major in that branch of the service, 
tliat being the rank he held, and the title he bore, for the last 
jiftccn years of his life. 

ISIv mother Avas of Dutch extraction on both sides, her ftithcr 
having been a Blauvelt, and her mother a Van Busser. I have 
licard it said that there was even a relationship between the 
Stuyvesants, and the Van Cortlandts, and the Van Bussers; 
but I am not able to point out the actual degree and precise 
nature of the affinity. I presume it Avas not very near, or my 
information Avould have been more minute. I have always un- 
derstood that my mother brought my father thirteen hundred 
pounds for dowry (currency, not sterling), which, it must be 
confessed, was a very genteel fortune for a young woman in 
1733. Now, I very well know that six, eight, and ten thou- 
sand pounds sometimes fall in, in this manner, and even much 
more in the high families ; but no one need be ashamed, who 
looks back fifty years, and finds that his mother brought a 
thousand pounds to her husband. 

I was neither an only child, nor the eldest-born. There was 
a son who preceded me, and two daughters succeeded, but 
they all died in infancy, leaving me in effect the only offspring 
for my parents to cherish and educate. My little brother mo- 
jiopolized the name of Evans, and living for some time after 
I Avas christened, I got the Dutch appellation of my maternal 
grandfather, for my share of the family nomenclature, Avhich 
happened to be Cornelius — Corny Avas consequently the dimin- 
utive by which I was knoAvn to all the whites of my acquaint- 
ance, for the first sixteen or eighteen years of my life, and to 
my parents as long as they lived. Corny Littlepage is not a 
bad name, in itself, and I trust they who do me the favor to 
read this manuscript, Avill lay it down with the feeling that the 
name is none the Avorse for the use I have made of it. 



16 SATAN STOE, 

I Lave said that both my father and grandfiither, each in his 
day, sat in the assembly ; my father twice, and my grandfather 
only once. Although we lived so near the borough of West- 
chester, it was not for that place they sat, but for the county, 
the De Lanceys and the Morrises contending for the control 
of the borough, in a way that left little chance for the smaller 
fishes tc swim in the troubled water they were so certain to 
create. Nevertheless, this political elevation brought my father 
out, as it might be, before the world, and was the means of 
giving him a personal consideration he might not have other- 
wise enjoyed. The benefits, and possibly some of the evils, of 
thus being drawn out from the more regular routine of our 
usually peaceable lives, may be made to appear in the course 
of this narrative. 

I have ever considered myself fortunate in not having been 
born in the earlier and infant days of the colony, when the in- 
terests at stake, and the events by which they were influenced, 
were not of a magnitude to give the mind and the hopes the 
excitement and enlargement that attend the periods of a more 
advanced civilization, and of more important incidents. In 
this respect, my own appearance in this world was most hap- 
pily timed, as any one will see, who will consider the state and 
importance of the colony in the middle of the present century. 
New York could not have contained many less than seventy 
thousand souls, including both colors, at the time of my birth, 
for it is supposed to contain quite a hundred thousand this 
day on which I am now writing. In such a community, a 
man has not only the room, but the materials on which to 
figure ; whereas, as I have often heard him say, my father, 
when he was born, was one of less than half of the smallest 
number I have just named. I have been gi-atcful for this ad- 
vantage, and I trust it will appear, by evidence that will be 
here afi"orded, that I have not lived in a quarter of the world, 
or in an age, when and where, and to which great events have 
been altogether strangers. 

My earliest recollections, as a matter of course, are of Sataus- 



8ATANST0E. 17 

loe and tlie domestic fireside. In my cliildliood and youth, I 
heard a great deal said of the Protestant Succession, the House 
of Hanover, and King George II. ; all mixed up with such 
names as those of George Clinton, General Monckton, Sir 
Charles Hardy, James de Lancey, and Sir Danvers Osborne, 
his official representatives in the colony. Every age has its old 
and its last wars, and I can well remember that which occurred 
between the French in the Canadas and ourselves, in 1744. I 
was then seven years old, and it was an event to make an im- 
pression on a child of that tender age. My honored grand- 
father was then living, as he was long afterward, and he took 
a strong interest in the military movements of the period, as was 
natural for an old soldier. New York had no connection with 
the celebrated expedition that captured Lguisbourg, then the 
Gibraltar of America, in 1745; but this could not prevent an 
old soldier, like Captain Littlepage, from entering into the 
affair with all his heart, though forbidden to use his hand. As 
the reader may not be aware of all the secret springs that set 
public events in motion, it may be well here to throw in a few 
words in the way of explanation. 

There was and is little sympathy, in the way of national feel- 
ing, between the colonies of New England and those which lie 
ferther south. We are all loyal, those of the east as well as 
those of the south-west and south ; but there is, and ever has 
been, so wide a difference in our customs, origins, religious 
opinions, and histories, as to cause a broad moral line, in the 
way of feeling, to be drawn between the colony of New York 
and those that lie east of the Byram River. I have heard it 
said, that most of the emigrants to the New England states 
came from the west of England, where many of their social 
peculiarities and much of their language are still to be traced, 
while the colonies farther south have received their population 
from the more central counties, and those sections of the island 
that are supposed to be less provincial and peculiar. I do not 
affirm that such is literally the fact, though it is well known 
that we of New York have long been accustomed to regard our 



1» SATANSTOE. 

neiglibors of New England as very dift'ereut from ourselves, 
"whilst, I dare say, our neiglibors of New England have regarded 
us as difterent from themselves, and insomuch removed from 
perfection. 

Let all this be as it may, it is certain New England is a por- 
tion of the empire that is set apart from the rest, for good or 
for evil. It got its name from the circumstance that the Eng- 
lish possessions were met, on its western boundary, by those of 
the Dutch, who were thus separated from the other colonies of 
purely Anglo-Saxon origin, by a wide district that was much 
larger in surface than the mother country itself. I am afraid 
there is something in the character of these Anglo-Saxons that 
predisposes them to laugh and turn up their noses at other 
races ; for I have remarked that the natives of the parent land 
itself, who come among us, show this disposition even as it 
respects us of New York and those of New England, while the 
people of the latter region manifest a feeling toward us, their 
neighbors, that partakes of any thing but the humility that is 
thought to grace that Christian character to which they aic 
particularly fond of laying claim. 

My grandfather was a native of the old country, however, 
and he entered but little into the colonial jealousies. He had 
lived from boyhood and had married in New York, and was 
not apt to betray any of the overweening notions of superiority 
that we sometimes encountered in native-born Englishmen, 
though I can remember instances in which he would point out 
the defects in our civilization, and others in which ho dwelt 
with pleasure on the grandeur and power of his own island. I 
dare say this was all right, for few among us have ever been 
disposed to dispute the just supremacy of England in all 
things that are desirable, and which form the basis of human 
excellence. 

I well remember a journey Captain Hugh Littlepage made to 
Boston, in 1745, in order to look at the preparations that wero 
making for the great expedition. Although his own colony 
had no connection with this enterprise, in a military point of 



SAT AN ST OE. 19 

view, bis previous service rendered liim an object of interest to 
the military men then assembled along the coast of New Eng- 
land. It has been said the expedition against Louisbourg, then 
the strongest place in America, Avas planned by a lawyer, led by 
a merchant, and executed by husbandmen and mechanics ; but 
this, though true as a whole, was a rule that had its exceptions. 
There were many old soldiers who had seen the service of this 
continent in the previous wars, and among them were several 
of my grandfather's former acquaintances. With these he 
passed many a cheerful hour, previously to the day of sailing, 
and I have often thought since, that my presence alone prevent- 
ed him from making one in the fleet. The reader will think I 
was young, perhaps, to be so far from home on such an occa- 
sion, but it happened in this wise : my excellent mother 
thought I had come out of the smallpox with some symptoms 
that might be benefited by a journey, and she prevailed on her 
father-in-law to let me be of the party when he left home to 
visit Boston in the winter of 1744-5. At that early day mov- 
ing about was not always convenient in these colonies, and my 
grandfather travelling in a sleigh that was proceeding east with 
some private stores that had been collected for the expedition, 
it presented a favorable opportunity to send me along with my 
venerable progenitor, who very good-naturedly consented to let 
me commence my travels under his own immediate auspices. 

The things I saw on this occasion have had a material in- 
fluence on my future life. I got a love of adventure, and par- 
ticularly of military parade and grandeur, that has since led me 
into more than one difliculty. Captain Hugh Littlepage, my 
grandfather, was delighted with all he saw until after the expe- 
dition had sailed, when he began to grumble on the subject of 
the religious observances that the piety of the Puritans blended 
with most of their other movements. On the score of religion 
there was a marked difference ; I may say there is still a 
marked difference between New England and New York. The 
people of New England certainly did, and possibly may still, 
look upon us of New York as little better than heathens ; while 



20 S A T A N S T O E . 

we of NcAV York assuredly did, and for any tiling I know to tlie 
contrary may yet, regard tliem as canters, and by necessary 
connection, hypocrites. I sliall not take it on myself to say 
which party is right ; though it has often occurred to my mind 
that it would be better had New England a little less self- 
righteousness, and New York a little more righteousness, with- 
out the self. Still, in the -way of pounds, shillings and pence, 
we will not turn our backs upon them any day, being on the 
whole rather the most trustworthy of the two as respects 
money ; more especially in all such cases in which our neigh- 
bor's goods can be appropriated without having recourse to 
absolutely direct means. Such, at any rate, is the New York 
opinion, let them think as they please about it on the other 
side of Byram. 

My grandfather met an old fellow-campaigner, at Boston, of 
the name of Hight, Major Hight, as he was called, who had 
come to see the preparations, too ; and the old soldiers passed 
most of the time together. The major was a Jerseyman, and 
had been somewhat of a free-liver in his time, retaining some 
of the propensities of his youth in old age, as is apt to be the 
case with those who cultivate a vice as if it were a hot-house 
plant. The major was fond of his bottle, drinking heavily of 
Madeira, of which there was then a good stock in Boston, for 
he brought some on himself; and I can remember various 
scenes that occurred between him and my grandfather, after 
dinner, as they sat discoursing in the tavern on the progress of 
things, and the prospects for the future. Had these two old 
soldiers been of the troops of the province in which they were, 
it would have been "major" and "captain" at every breath; 
for BO part of the earth is fonder of titles than our eastern 
brethren ;* whereas, I must think we had some claims to more 
true simplicity of character and habits, notwithstanding New 
York has ever been thought the most aristocratical of all the 

* It ■will be remembeveA Mr. Litllepage wrote more than seventy years ago, when 
this distinction miglit exclusively belong to the East; but the Weai has now some 
claim to It, also. 



SAT A NS TOE. 21 

nortliern colonics. Having been intimate from early youth, my 
two old soldiers familiarly called eacli otlier Joey and Hodge, 
the latter being the abbreviation of one of my grandfather's 
names, Roger, when plain Hugh was not used, as sometimes 
happened between them. Hugh Roger Littlepage, I ought to 
have said, was my grandfather's name. 

" I should like these Yankees better, if they prayed less, my 
old friend," said the major, one day, after they had been dis- 
cussing the appearances of things, and speaking between the 
pufls of his pipe. " I can see no great use in losing so much 
time, by making these halts to pray, when the campaign is fair- 
ly opened." 

"It was always their way, Joey," my grandfather answered, 
taking his time, as is customary with smokers. "I remember 
when we were out together, in the year '17, that the New 
England troops always had their parsons, who acted as a sort 
of second colonels. They tell me his excellency has ordered 
a weekly fast, for public prayers, during the whole of this cam- 
paign." 

"Ay, Master Hodge, praying and plundering; so they go 
on," returned the major, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, 
preparatory to filling it anew ; an employment that gave him 
an opportunity to give vent to his feelings, without pausing to 
puff. "Ay, Master Hodge, praying and plundering; so they 
go on. Now, do you remember old "Watson, who was in the 
Massachusetts levies, in the year '12? — old Tom Watson; 
he that was a sub under Barnwell, in our Tuscarora expedi- 
tion ?" 

My grandfather nodded his head iu assent, that being the 
only reply the avocation of smoking rendered convenient, just 
at that moment, unless a sort of affirmatory grunt could be con- 
strued into an auxiliary. 

"Well, he has a son going in this affair; and old Tom, or 
Colonel Watson, as he is now very particular to be called, is 
down here with his wife and two daughters, to sec the ensign 
off. I went to pay the old fellow a visit, Hodge ; and found 



22 SATANSTOE. 

him, and the mother and sisters, all as busy as bees in getting 
young Tom's baggage ready for a march. There lay his -whole 
equipment before my eyes, and I had a favorable occasion to 
examine it at my leisure." 

"Which you did with all your might, or you're not the Joe 
Hight of the year '10" said my grandfather, taking his turn 
with the ashes and the tobacco-box. 

Old Hight was now puffing away like a blacksmith who is 
striving to obtain a white heat, and it was some time before he 
could get out the proper reply to this half-assertion, half-inter- 
rogatory sort of remark. 

"You may be sure of that," he at length ejaculated; when, 
certain of his light, he proceeded to tell the Avhole story, stop- 
ping occasionally to puff, lest he should lose the "vantage 
ground" he had just obtained. "What d'ye think of a half-a- 
dozen strings of red onions, for one item in a subaltern's stores!" 

My grandfather grunted again, in a way that might very well 
pass for a laugh. 

"You're certain they were red, Joey?" he finally asked. 

"As red as his regimentals. Then there was a jug filled with 
molasses, that is as big as yonder demijohn j'** glancing at the 
vessel which contained his own private stores. "But I should 
have thought nothing of these, a large empty sack attracting 
much of my attention. I could not imagine what young Tom 
could want of such a sack ; but, on broaching the subject to the 
major, he very frankly gave me to understand that Louisbourg 
was thought to be a rich town, and there was no telling what 
luck, or Providence — yes, by George I — he called it Provi- 
dence ! — might throw in his son Tommy's way. Now that the 
pack was empty, and had an easy time of it, the girls would put 
his Bible and hymn-book in it, as a place where the young man 
would be likely to look for them. I dare say, Hodge, you 
never had either Bible or hymn-book, in any of your numerous 
campaigns?" 

"No, nor a plunder-sack, nor a molasses-jug, nor strings of 
red onions," growled ray grandfather in reply. 



SATAN S TOE 



23 



How well I remember that evening ! A vast deal of colonial 
prejudice and neighborly antipathy made themselves apparent 
in the conversation of the two veterans ; who seemed to enter- 
tain a strange sort of contemptuous respect for their fellow-sub- 
jects of New England ; who, in their turn, I make not the 
smallest daubt, paid them off in kind — with all the supercilious- 
ness and reproach, and with many grains less of the respect. 

That night. Major Hight and Captain Hugh Roger Littlepagc, 
both got a little how-come-you-so, drinking bumpers to the 
success of what they called " the Yankee expedition," even at 
the moment they were indulging in constant side-hits at the 
failings and habits of the people. These marks of neighborly 
infirmity are not peculiar to the people of the adjacent provinces 
of New York and of New England. I have often remarked 
that the English think and talk very much of the French, as 
the Yankees speak of us ; while the French, so far as I have 
been able to understand their somewhat unintelligible language 
— which seems never to have a beginning nor an end — treat the 
English as the Puritans of the old world. As I have already 
intimated, we were not very remarkable for religion in New 
York, in my younger days ; while it Avould be jiist the word, 
were I to say that religion was conspicuous among our eastern 
neighbors. I remember to have heard my grandfather say, he 
was once acquainted with a Colonel Heathcote, an Englishman 
like himself by birth, and a brother of a certain Sir Gilbert 
Heathcote, who was formerly a leading man in the Bank of 
England. This Colonel Heathcote came among us young, and 
married here, leaving his posterity behind him, and was loid 
of the manor of Scarsdale and Mamaroneck, in our county of 
Westchester. Well, this Colonel Heathcote told my grand- 
father, speaking on the subject of* religion, that he had been 
much shocked, on arriving in this country, at discovering the 
neglected condition of religion in the colony ; more especially 
on Long Island, where the people lived in a sort of heathenish 
condition.. Being a man of mark, and connected with the gov- 
ernment, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 



24 SATANSTOE. 

Foreign Parts, applied to Lim to aid it in spreading the truths 
of the Bible in the colony. The colonel was glad enough to 
comply ; and I remember my grandftithcr said, his friend told 
him of the answer he returned to these good persons in England. 
"I was so struck with the heathenish condition of the people, 
on my arriving here," he wrote to them, "that, commanding 
the militia of the colony, I ordered the captains of the different 
companies to call their men together, each Sunday at sunrise, 
and to drill them until sunset, unless they would consent to 
repair to some convenient place, and listen to morning and eve- 
ning prayer, and to two wholesome sermons, read by some 
suitable person, in which case the men were to be excused from 
drill."* I do not think this would be found necessary in New 
England at least, where many of the people would be likely to 
prefer drilling to preaching. 

But all this gossip about the moral condition of the adjacent 
colonies of New York and New England is leading me from the 
narrative, and does not promise much for the connection and 
interest of the remainder of the manuscript. 

* On the subject of this story, the editor can say ho has seen a pulilishcd letter from 
Colonel Heathcote, who died more than a century since, at Mainaroneck, Westchester 
county, in which that gentleman gives the society for the propagation of the gospel 
an account of his proceedings, that agrees almost terbatim -with the account of the 
matter that is here given by Mr. Cornelius Littlepago. The house in which Colonel 
Ilcathcoto dwelt was destroyed by fire, a short time before the revolution; but the 
property on which it stood, and the present building, belong at this moment to his 
great-grandson, the Kt. Eev. Wm. Heathcote de Lancey, the bishop of Western New 
York. 

On the subject of the plunder, the editor will remark, that a near connection, whose 
grandfather was a major at the taking of Louisbourg, and who was subsequently one 
of the first brigadiers appointed in 1775, has lately shown him a letter written to that 
officer, during the expedition, by his father ; in which, blended with a great deal of 
pious counsel, and some really excellent religious exhortation, is an earnest inquiry 
after the plunder. — Editoiu 



8ATANST0E, 



25 



CHAPTER n. 

•* I would there were no age between ten and three-ond-twenty : or that yontb 

ofonld sleep out the rest." 

■Wdjteb's Talk. 

It is not necessary for me to say mucli of the first fourteen 
years of my life. They passed like the childhood and youth of 
the sons of most gentlemen in our colony, at that day, with this 
distinction, however. There was a class among us which edu- 
cated its boys at home. This was not a very numerous class, 
certainly, nor was it always the highest in point of fortune and 
rank. Many of the large proprietors were of Dutch origin, as 
a matter of course ; and these seldom, if ever, sent their chil- 
dren to England to be taught any thing, in my boyhood. I 
understand that a few are getting over their ancient prejudices 
in this particular, and begin to fjincy Oxford or Cambridge may 
be quite as learned schools as that of Leyden ; but no Van, in 
my boyhood, could have been made to believe this. Many of 
the Dutch proprietors gave their children very little education, 
in any way or form, though most of them imparted lessons of 
probity that were quite as useful as learning, had the two things 
been really inseparable. For my part, while I admit there is a 
great deal of knowledge going up and down the land, that is 
just of a degree to trick a fellow-creature out of his rights, I 
shall never subscribe to the opinion, which is so prevalent 
among the Dutch portion of our population, and which holds the 
doctrine that the schools of the New England provinces are the 
reason the descendants of the Puritans do not enjoy the best 
of reputations, in this respect, I believe a boy may be well 
taught, and made all the honester for it; though I admit there 
may be, and is, such a thing as training a lad into false notions, 
2 



26 SATANSTOK, 

as well as training him in those that are true. But we had a 
class, principally of English extraction, that educated its son3 
well ; usually sending them home to the great English schools, 
and finishing at the universities. These persons, however, lived 
principally in town, or, having estates on the Hudson, passed 
their winters there. To this class the Littlepages did not belong ; 
neither their habits nor their fortunes tempting them to so high 
a flight. For myself, I was taught enough Latin and Greek to 
enter college, by the Rev. Thomas Worden, an English divine, 
who was rector of St. Jude's, the parish to which our family 
properly belonged. This gentleman was esteemed a good 
scholar, and was very popular among the gentry of the county ; 
attending all the dinners, clubs, races, balls, and other diver- 
sions that were given by them, within ten miles of his residence. 
His sermons were pithy and short ; and he always spoke of 
your half-hour preachers as illiterate prosers, who did not un- 
derstand how to condense their thoughts. Twenty minutes 
were his gauge, though I remember to have heard my father 
say, that he had known him preach all of twenty-two. When 
he compressed down to fourteen, my grandfather invariably 
protested he was delightful. 

I remained with Mr. Worden until I could translate the two 
first ^neids, and the whole of the Gospel of St. Matthew, pretty 
readily ; and then my father and grandfather, the last in par- 
ticular, for the old gentleman had a great idea of learning, be- 
gan to turn over in their minds, the subject of the college to 
which I ought to be sent. We had the choice of two, in both 
of which the learned languages and the sciences are taught, 
to a degree, and in a perfection, that is surprising for a new 
country. These colleges are Yale, at New Haven, in Connec- 
ticut, and Nassau Hall, which was then at Newark, New Jersey, 
after having been a short time at Elizabethtown, but which has 
since been established at Princeton, Mr, Worden laughed at 
both ; said that neither had as much learning as a second-rate 
English grammar-school ; and that a lower-form boy, at Eton 
or Westminster, could take a master's degree at cither, and 



SATANSTOE. 



27 



pass for a prodigy in the bargain. My fatlier, who was born 
in the colonies, and had a good deal of the right colony feeling, 
was nettled at this, I remember ; while my grandfather, being 
old-country born, but colony educated, was at a loss how to 
view the matter. The captain had a great respect for his na- 
tive land, and evidently considered it the paradise of this earth, 
though his recollections of it were not very distinct ; but, at 
the same time, he loved Old York, and Westchester in par- 
ticular, where he had married and established himself at Satan's 
Toe ; or, as he spelt it, and as we all have spelt it, now, this 
many a day, Satanstoe. I was present at the conversation 
which decided the question, as regarded my future education, 
and which took place in the common parlor, around a blazing 
fire, about a week before Christmas, the year I was fourteen. 
There were present Captain Hugh Eoger, Major Evans, my 
mother, the Rev. Mr. Worden, and an old gentleman of Dutch 
designation and extraction, of the name of Abraham Van Val- 
kenburgh, but who was familiarly called, by his friends, 'Brom 
FoUock, or Colonel Follock, or Volleck, as the last happen to 
be more or less ceremonious, or more or less Dutch. Follock, 
T think, however, was the favorite pronunciation. This Colonel 
Van Valkenburgh was an old brother-soldier of my father's, 
and, indeed, a relation, a sort of cousin through my great- 
grandmother, besides being a man of much consideration and 
substance. He lived in Rockland, just across the Hudson, but 
never failed to pay a visit to Satanstoe at that season of 
the year. On the present occasion, he was accompanied 
by his son, Dirck, wlio was my friend, and just a year my 
junior. 

"Veil, den," — the colonel commenced the discourse by say- 
ing, as he tapped the ashes out of his pipe for the second time 
that evening, having first taken a draught of hot flip, a bever- 
age much in vogue then, as well as now, — "veil, den, Evans, 
vat is your intention as to ter poy ? Vill he pe college-l'arnt, 
like as his grant-fa' ter, or only school-l'arnt, like as his own 
fa'ter?" The allusion to the grandfather being a pleasantry of 



28 SATAN STOE. 

the colonel's, who insisted that all the old-country born were 
" college-!' arnt" by instinct. 

"To own the truth, 'Brom," my father answered, "this is a 
point that is not yet entirely settled, for there are different 
opinions as to the place to which he shall be sent, even admit- 
ting that he is to be sent at all." 

The colonel fastened his full, projecting, blue eyes on my 
father, in a way that pretty plainly expressed surprise. 

" Vat, den, is dcre so many colleges, dat it is hart to choose ?" 
he said. 

" There are but two that can be of any use to us, for Cam- 
bridge is much too distant to think of sending the boy so far. 
Cambridge was in our thoughts at one time, but that is given 
up." 

"Vhere, den, ist Cambridge?" demanded the Dutchman, 
removing his pipe to ask so important a question, a ceremony 
he usually thought unnecessary. 

** It is a New England college — near Boston ; not half a day's 
journey distant, I fancy." 

"Don't sent Cornelius dere," ejaculated the colonel, con- 
tri\'ing to get these words out alongside of the stem of the pipe. 

**You think not, Colonel Follock," put in the anxious moth- 
er; " may I ask the reason for that opinion ?" 

"Too much Suntay, Matam Littlepage — the poy will be 
sp'iit by ter ministers. He will go away an honest lat, and 
come pack a rogue. He will I'arn how to bray and to cheat." 

"Hoitytoity, my noble colonel!" exclaimed the Rev. Mr. 
Worden, affecting more resentment than he felt. "Then you 
fancy the clergy, and too much Sunday, will be apt to convert 
an honest youth into a knave !" 

"The colonel made no answer, continuing to smoke very 
philosophically, though he took occasion, while he drew the 
pipe out of his mouth, in one of its periodical removals, to 
make a significant gesture with it toward the rising sun, which 
all present understood to mean "down east," as it is usual to 
Bay, when we mean to designate the colonies of New England. 



3ATAKST0E, 



29 



That he was understood by the Rev. Mr. Worden, is highly 
probable ; since that gentleman continued to turn the flip of 
one vessel into another, by way of more intimately blending 
the ingredients of the mixture, quite as coolly as if there had 
been no reflection on his trade. 

""\Miat do you think of Yale, friend 'Brom?" asked my 
father, who understood the dumb-show as well as any of them. 

"No tifierence, Evans; dey all breaches and brays too 
much. Goot men have no neet of so much religion. Yhen a 
man is really goot, religion only does him harm. I mean Yan- 
kee religion." 

" I have another objection to Yale," obseri'ed Captain Hugh 
Roger, "which is their English. " 

"Och!" exclaimed the colonel — " Deii- English is horriple ! 
AYuss dan ast to us Tutch." 

"Well, I was not aware of that," obsei-ved my father. 
"They are EngUsh, sir, as well as ourselves, and why should 
they not speak the language as well as we !" 

"Why toes not a Yorkshire man, or a Cornishman, speak as 
veil as a Lonnoner ? I tell you what, Evans, I'll pet the pest 
o-ame-cock on ter Neck, against the veriest tunghill the parson 
hast, ter presitent of Yale calls p e e n, pen, ant roof, rufi" — 
and so on." 

"My birds are all game," put in the divine; "I keep no 
other breed." 

"Surely, Mr. Worden, you do not countenance cockfights 
by your presence !" my mother said, using as much of reproach 
in her manner as comported with the holy office of the party 
she addressed, and with her own gentle nature. The colonel 
winked at my father, and laughed through his pipe, an exploit 
he might have been said to perform almost hom-ly. My fjither 
smiled in return ; for, to own the truth, he had been present at 
such sports on one or two occasions, when the parson's curi- 
osity had tempted him to peep in also ; but my grandfather 
looked grave and much in earnest. As for Mr. AYorden him- 
Belf, he met the imputation like a man. To do him justice, if 



30 SATAN STOE. 

he were not an ascetic, neither was he a whining hypocrite, as 
is the case with too many of those who aspire to be disciples 
and ministers of our blessed Lord. 

"Why not, Madam Littlepage?" Mr. Worden stoutly de- 
manded. " There are worse places than cock-pits ; for, mark 
me, I never bet — no, not on a horse-race even ; and that is an 
occasion on which any gentleman might venture a few guineas, 
in a liberal, frank way. There are so few amusements for peo- 
ple of education in this country. Madam Littlepage, that one 
is not to be too particular. If there were hounds and hunting, 
now, as there are at home, you should never hear of me at a 
cock-fight, I can assure you." 

"I must say I do not approve of cockfights," rejoined my 
mother meekly ; " and I hope Corny will never be seen at one. 
No — never — never. ' ' 

"Dcre you're wrong, Matam Littlepage," the colonel re- 
marked, " for tcr sight of ter spirit of ter cocks wilt give ter 
boy spirit himself. My Tirck, dere, goes to all in ter neighbor- 
hoot, and he is a game-cock himself, let me tell you. Come, 
Tirck — come — cock-a-doodle-do !" 

This was true all round, as I very well knew, young as I was. 
Dirck, who was as slow- moving, as dull-seeming, and as anti- 
mercurial a boy to look at as one could find in a thousand, was 
thorough game at the bottom, and he had been at many a 
main, as he had told me himself. How much of his spirit was 
derived from witnessing such scenes I will not take on me to 
affirm ; for, in these later times, I have heard it questioned 
whether such exhibitions do really improve the spectator's cour- 
age or not. But Dirck had pluck, and plenty of it, and in that 
particular, at least, his father was not mistaken. The colonel's 
opinion always carried weight with my mother, both on account 
of his Dutch extraction, and on account of his well-established 
probity ; for, to own the truth, a text or a sentiment from him 
had far more Aveight with her than the same from the clergy- 
man. She was silenced on the subject of cockfighting for the 
moment, therefore, which gave captain Hugh Roger further 



SATANSTOE. 31 

opportunity to pursue that of the English language. The 
grandfather, who was an inveterate lover of the sport, would 
have cut in to that branch of the discourse, but he had a great 
tenderness for my mother, whom everybody loved by the way, 
and he commanded himself, glad to find that so important an 
interest had fallen into hands as good as those of the colonel. 
lie would just as soon be absent from church as be absent from 
a cockfight, and he Avas a very good observer of religion. 

" I should have sent Evans to Yale, had it not been for the 
miserable manner of speaking English they have in New Eng- 
land," resumed my grandfather ; " and I had no wish to have 
a son who might pass for a Cornish man. We shall have to 
send this boy to Newark, in New Jersey. The distance is not 
so great, and we shall be certain he will not get any of your 
Roundhead notions of religion, too. Colonel 'Brom, you Dutch 
are not altogether free from these distressing follies." 

" Debbie a pit?" growled the colonel, through his pipe; for 
no devotee of liberalism and latitudinarianism in religion could 
be more averse to extra-piety than he. The colonel, however, 
was not of the Dutch Reformed ; he was an Episcopalian, like 
ourselves, his mother having brought this branch of the Pol- 
locks into the church ; and, consequently, he entered into all 
our feelings on the subject of religion, heart and hand. Per- 
haps Mr. Worden was a greater favorite with no member of the 
four parishes over which he presided, than with Colonel Abra- 
ham Von Yalkenburgh. 

"I should think less of sending Corny to Newark," added 
my mother, " was it not for crossing the water." 

" Crossing the water!" repeated Mr. Worden. " The New- 
ark we mean, Madam Littlepage, is not at home ; the Jersey of 
which we speak is the adjoining colony of that name." 

" I am aware of that, Mr. Worden ; but it is not possible to 
get to Newark, without making that terrible voyage between 
New York and Powles' HooL No, sir, it is impossible ; and 
every time the child comes home, that risk will have to be run 
It would cause me many a sleejjless night !" 



32 6ATANST0E. 

"He can go by Tobb's Ferry, Matam Littlepage," quietly 
observed the colonel. 

" Dobb's Ferry can be very little better tban that by Powles' 
Hoot," rejoined the tender mother. " A ferry is a ferry ; and 
the Hudson will be the Hudson, from Albany to New York. 
So water is water." 

As these were all self-evident propositions, they produced a 
pause in the discourse ; for men do not deal with new ideas as 
freely as they deal with the old. 

" Dere is a way, Evans, as you and I know py experience," 
resumed the colonel, winking again at my father, "to go rount 
the Hudson altoget'er. To pe sure, it is a long w^ay, and a pit 
in the woots ; but pctter to untertake dat, than to haf the poy 
lose his I'arnin'. Ter journey might be made in two mont's, 
and he none the wuss for ter exercise. Ter major and I were 
never heartier dan when we were operating on the he't waters 
of the Hutson. I will tell Corny the roat." 

My mother saw that her apprehensions were laughed at, and 
she had the good sense to be silent. The discussion did not 
the less proceed, until it was decided, after an hour more of 
weighing the pros and the cons, that I was to be sent to Nassau 
Hall, Newark, New Jersey, and was to move from that place 
with the college, whenever that event might happen. 

"You will send Dirck there, too," my father added, as soon 
as the affair in my case was finally deterroined. " It would be 
a pity to separate the boys, after they have been so long to- 
gether, and have got to be so much used to each other. Their 
characters are so identical, too, that they are more like brothers 
than very distant relatives." 

" Dey will like one anot'er all de petter for pein' a little 
tifferent, den," answered the colonel, dryly. 

Dirck and I were no more alike than a horse resembles a mule. 

" Ay, but Dirck is a lad who will do honor to an education 
— he is solid and thoughtful, and learning will not be thrown 
away on such a youth. Was he in England, that sedate lad 
might get to be a bishop." 



SATANSTOE. Si} 

" I want no pishops in my family, Major Evans, nor do I 
want any great I'arnin'. None of us evor saw a college, and we 
have got on fery veil. I am a colonel and a memper ; my fat'ei 
was a colonel and a memper; and my grandfat'er woult have 
peen a colonel and a memper, but dere vast no colonels and no 
mempers in his time ; though Tirck yonter can be a colonel 
and a memper, wit' out crosting dat terriple ferry that frightens 
Matam Littlepage so much." 

There was usually a little humor in all Colonel FoUock said 
and did, though it must be owned it was humor after a very 
Dutch model ; Dutch-built fun, as Mr. Worden used to call it. 
Nevertheless, it was humor ; and there was enough of Holland 
in all the junior generations of the Littlepages to enjoy it. My 
father understood him, and my mother did not hear the last of 
the "terriple ferry" until not only I, but the college itself, had 
quitted Newark ; for the institution made another remove to 
Princeton, the place where it is now to be found, some time 
before I got my degree. 

*' You have got- on very well without a college education, as 
all must admit, colonel," answered Mr. Worden; "but there is 
no telling how much better you would have got on, had you 
been an A. M. You might, in the last case, have been a gen- 
eral and a member of the king's council." 

" Dere ist no yeneral in ter colony, the commander-in-chief 
and his majesty's represeutatif excepted," returned the colonel. 
"We are no Yankees, to make yenerals of ploughmen." 

Hereupon the colonel and my father knocked the ashes out 
of their pipes at the same instant, and both laughed — a merri- 
ment in which the parson, my grandfather, my dear mother, 
and I myself joined. Even a negro boy, who was about my 
own age, and whose name was Jacob, or Jaap, but who was 
commonly called Yaap, giinned at the remark, for he had a 
sovereign contempt for Yankee-land, and all it contained ; al- 
most as sovereign a contempt as that which Yankee-land enter- 
tained for York itself, and its Dutch population. Dirck was 
the only person present who looked grave; but Dirck was 



34 8ATANSTOE. 

habitually as grave and sedate, as if he had been born to become 
a burgomaster. 

"Quite right, Brom," cried my father ; '^^ colonels arc good 
enough for us ; and when we do make a man that, even, we arc 
a little particular about his being respectable and fit for the 
ofiicc. Nevertheless learning will not hurt Corny, and to col- 
lege he shall go, let you do as you please with Dirck. So that 
matter is settled, and no more need be said about it." 

And it was settled, and to college I did go, and that by the 
awful. Powles' Hook Ferry, in the bargain. Near as we lived 
to town, I paid my first visit to the island of Manhattan the day 
my father and myself started for Newark. I had an aunt, who 
lived in Queen street, not a very great distance from the fort, 
and she had kindly invited me and my father to pass a day 
with her, on our way to New Jersey, Avhich invitation had been 
accepted. In my youth, the world in general was not so much 
addicted to gadding about as it is now getting to be, and 
neither my grandfather nor my father ordinarily went to town, 
their calls to the legislature excepted, more than twice a year. 
My mother's visits were still less frequent, although Mrs. Legge, 
my aunt, was her own sister. Mr. Legge was a lawyer of a 
good deal of reputation, but he was inclined to be in the oppo- 
sition, or espoused the popular side in politics ; and there could 
be no great cordiality between one of that frame of mind and 
«»ur family. I remember we had not been in the house an 
hour, before a warm discussion took place between my uncle 
and my father, on the question of the right of the subject to 
canvass the acts of the government. "We had left home imme- 
diately after an early breakfast, in order to reach town before 
dark ; but a long detention at the Harlem Ferry, compelled us 
to dine in that village, and it was quite night before we stopped 
in Queen street. My aunt ordered supper early, in order that 
we might get early to bed, to recover from our fatigue, and be 
ready for sight-seeing next day. We sat down to supper, 
therefore, in less than an hour after our arrival ; and it was 
while Ave were at table that the discussion I have mentioned 



SATAN STOE. 85 

look place. It would seem that a party bad been got up in 
town among tbe disloyal, and I migbt almost say, the disaftect 
ed, which claimed for the subject tbe right to know in what 
manner every shilling of the money raised by taxation was 
expended. This very obviously improper interference with 
matters that did not belong to them, on the part of the ruled, 
was resisted by the rulers, and that with energy ; inasmuch as 
such inquiries and investigations would naturally lead to results 
that might bring authority into discredit, make the governed 
presuming and prying in their dispositions, and cause much 
derangement and inconvenience to the regular and salutary 
action of government. My father took the negative of the 
proposition, while my uncle maintained its affirmative. I 
well remember that my poor aunt looked uneasy, and tried 
to divert the discourse by exciting our curiosity on a new 
subject. 

" Corny has been particularly lucky in having come to town 
just as he has, since we shall have a sort of gala-day to-morrow, 
for the blacks and the children," 

I was not in the least offended at being thus associated with 
the negroes, for they mingled in most of the amusements of us 
young people ; but I did not quite so well like to be ranked 
with the children, now I was fourteen, and on my way to 
college. Notwithstanding this, I did not fail to betray an 
interest in what was to come next, by my countenance. 
As for my father, he did not hesitate about asking an expla- 
nation. 

"The news came in this morning, by a fast-sailing sloop, 
that the Patroon of Albany is on his way to New York, in his 
coach-and-four, and with two outriders, and that he may be 
expected to reach town in the course of to-morrow. Several of 
my acquaintances have consented to let their children go out a 
little way into the country, to see him come in ; and as for the 
blacks, you know, it is just as well to give them i^^rmission to 
be of the party, as half of them would otherwise go without 
askinc: it." 



36 SATANSTOE 

'* This will be a capital opportunity to let Corny sec a little 
of the world," cried my father, " and I would not have hiin 
miss it on any account. Besides, it is useful to teach young 
people early, the profitable lesson of honoring their superiors 
and seniors." 

"In that sense it may do," growled my uncle, who, though 
so much of a latitudinarian in his political opinions, never failed 
to inculcate all useful and necessary maxims for private life ; the 
Patroon of Albany being one of the most respectable and afflu- 
ent of all our gentry. I have no objection to Corny' s going to 
see that sight ; and I hope, my dear, you will let both Pompey 
and Cajsar be of the party. It won't hurt the fellows to see the 
manner in which the patroon has his carriage kept and horses 
groomed." 

Pompey and Caesar were of the party, though the latter did 
not join us until Pompey had taken me all rouud the town, to 
see the principal sights ; it being understood that the patroon 
had slept at Kingsbridge, and would not be likely to reach town 
until near noon. New York was certainly not the place, in 
1Y51, it is to-day; nevertheless, it was a large and important 
town, even when I went to college, containing not less than 
twelve thousand souls, blacks included. The Town Hall is a 
magnificent structure, standing at the head of Broad street; and 
thither Pompey led me, even before my aunt had come down to 
breakfast. I could scarcely admire that fine edifice sufficiently ; 
which, for size, architecture and position, has scarcely now an 
equal in all the colonies. It is true, that the town has much 
improved, within the last twenty years ; but York was a noble 
place, even in the middle of this century ! After breakfast, 
Pompey and I proceeded up Broadway, commencing near the 
fort, at the Bowling Green, and walking some distance beyond 
the head of Wall street, or quite a quarter of a mUe. Nor did 
the town stop here ; though its principal extent is, or was then, 
along the margin of the East River. Trinity Church I could 
hardly admire enough either ; for it appeared to me, that it was 
large enough to contain all the church people in the colony. 



SATANSTOE. 37 

It was a venerable structure, ■wliich liad then felt the heats of 
summer and the snows of w'inter on its roofs and walls, near 
half a century, and it still stands a monument of pious zeal and 
cultivated taste.* There were other churches, belonging to other 
denominations, of course, that were well worthy of being seen; 
to say nothing of the markets. I thought I never should tire 
of gazing at the magnificence of the shops, pai-ticularly the sil- 
versmiths' ; some of which must have had a thousand dollars' 
worth of plate in their windows, or otherwise in sight. I might 
say as much of the other shops, too, which attracted a just por- 
tion of my admiration. 

About eleven, the number of children and blacks that were 
seen walking tov/ard the Bowery road, gave us notice that it 
was time to be moving in that direction. We were in the upper 
part of Broadway at the time, and Pompey proceeded forth- 
with to fall into the current, making all the haste he could, as 
it was thought the traveller might pass down toward the East 
River, and get into Queen street, before we could reach the 
pomt at which he would diverge. It is trae, the old town res- 
idence of Stephen de Lancey, which stood at the head of Broad- 
way, just above Trinity, f had been converted into a tavern, and 
we did not know but the patroon might choose to alight there, 
as it- was then the principal inn of the town ; still, most people 

* The intelligent reader -will, of course, properly appreciate the provincial admira- 
tion of Mr. Littlcpage, who naturally fancied his own best was other people's best. 
The Trinity of that day was burned in the great fire of 1776. The edifice that suc- 
ceeded it at the peace of 17S3, has already given place to a successor, that has more 
claim to be placed on a level with modern English town-church architecture, tian 
any other building in the Union. AVhen another shall succeed this, which shall be as 
much larger and more elaborated than this is, compared to its predecessor, and still 
another shall succeed, which shall bear the same relation to that, then the country 
will possess an edifice that is on a level with the first-rate Gothic cathedral-architect- 
ure of Europe. It would be idle to pretend that the new Trinity is without faults; 
some of which arc probably the result of circumstances and necessity ; but, if the re- 
spectable architect who has built it, had no other merit, he would deserve the graU- 
tude of every man of taste in the country, by placing church towers of a proper com« 
parative breath, dignity and proportions, before the eyes of its population. The di- 
minutive meanness of American church-towers, has been an eyesore to every inUUU 
ffent, travelled American, since the country was settled. — Editob. 

ITle site of the present City Hotel.— Kiutor. 



S3 SATAN STOE. 

preferred Queen street ; and tlie new City Tavern was so much 
out of tlie way, that strangers in particular were not fond of 
frequenting it. C«sar came up, much out of breath, just as we 
got into the country. 

Quitting Broadway, wo went along the country road that then 
diverged to the east, but which is now getting to contain a sort 
of suburb, and passing the road that leads into Queen street, wc 
felt more certain of meeting the traveller, whose carriage we 
soon learned had not gone by. As there were and are several 
taverns for country people in this quarter, most of us went quite 
into the country, proceeding as far as the villas of the Bayards, 
De Lanceys, and other persons of mark ; of which there are 
several along the Bowery road. Our party stopped under some 
cherry trees, that were not more than a mile from town, nearly 
opposite to Lieutenant-Governor de Lancey's country house ;* but 
many boys, etc., went a long, long way into the country, finishing 
the day by nutting and gathering apples in the grounds of Peters- 
field and Rosehill, the country residences of the Stuyvesant and 
Watt, or, as the last is now called, the AVatts families. I was 
desirous of going thus far myself, for I had heard much of both 
of those grand places ; but Pompey told me it would be neces- 
sary to be back for dinner by half-past one, his mistress having 
consented to postpone the hour a little, in order to indulge my 
natural desire to see all I could while in town. 

We were not altogether children and blacks who were out on 
the Bowery road that day — many tradesmen were among us, 
the leathern aprons making a goodly parade on the occasion. I 
saw one or two persons wearing swords, hovering round, in the 
lanes and in the woods — proof that even gentlemen had some 
desire to see so great a person as the Patroon of Albany pass. 
I shall not stop to say much of the transit of the patroon. He 
came by about noon, as was expected, and in his coach-and-four, 
with two outriders, coachman, etc., in liveries, as is usual in the 
femilies of the gentry, and with a team of heavy, black, Dutch- 
looking horses, that I remember Caesar pronounced to be of the 

* Now Delimcoy street. — Euitoe. 



SATANSTOE. 39 

true Flemish breed. The patroon himself was a sightly, well- 
dressed gentleman, wearing a scarlet coat, flowing wig, and 
cocked hat ; and I observed that the handle of his sword was 
of solid silver. But my father wore a sword with a solid silver 
handle, too, a present from my grandfather Avhen the former 
first entered the army.* He bowed to the salutations he re- 
ceived in passing, and I thought all the spectators were pleased 
with the noble sight of seeing such an equipage pass into the 
town. Such a sight does not occur every day in the colonies, 
and I felt exceedingly happy that it had been my privilege to 
witness it. 

A little incident occurred to myself that rendered this day 
long memorable to me. Among the spectators assembled along 
the road on this occasion, were several groups of girls, Avho 
belonged to the better class, and who had been induced to come 
out into the country, either led by curiosity or by the manage- 
ment of the different sable nurses who had them in charge. In 
one of these groups was a girl of about ten, or possibly of eleven 
years of age, whose dress, air, and mien, early attracted my 
attention. I thought her large, bright, full, blue eye, particu- 
larly winning ; and boys of fourteen are not altogether insensi- 
ble to beauty in the other sex, though they are possibly induced 
oftencr to regard it in those who are older than in those who 
are younger than themselves. Pompey happened to be ac- 

* This patroon must have been Jeremiah Van Kensselaer, who lived to be a bache- 
lor of forty before he married. If there be no anachronism, this gentleman married 
Miss Van Cortlandt, one of the seven daughters of Stcphanus Van C'ortlandt, who was 
proprietor of the great manor of Cortlandt, Westchester county, and who, in his day, 
was the principal personage of the colony. The seven daughters of this Colonel Van 
Cortlandt, by marrying into the families of De Lancey, Bayard, Van Eensselaer, Beck- 
man, M'Gregor — Skinner, etc., etc., brought together a connection that was long felt 
In the political affairs of New York. The Schuylers were related through a previous 
marriage, and many of the Long Island and other families of weight by other alliances. 
This connection formed the court party, which w.is resisted by an opposition led by 
the Livingstons, Morrises, and other names of their connection. This old bachelor, 
Jeremiah Van Itensselaer, believing he would never marry, .ilicnated, in behalf of his 
next brother and aniicipatcd heir, the Greenbush and Clavcrack estates, portions of 
those v.ast possessions which, in our d.ay, and principally through the culpable apathy, 
or miser.able dcmagogneism of those who have been entrusted with the caro of the 
public we.ll, have been the pretext for violating some of the plainest laws of morality 
that God has coinmunicitcd to man. — Editok. 



40 SATANSTOE. 

quainted with Silvy, the ncgress Avho had the care of my Uttle 
beauty, to "whom he bowed, and addressed as Miss Aniiekc 
(Anna CorneUa, abbreviated). Anneke I thought a very pretty 
name too, and some little advances were made toward an ac- 
quaintance by means of an offering of some fruit that I had 
gathered by the way-side. Things were making a considerable 
progress, and I had asked several questions, such as whether 
"Miss Anneke had ever seen a patroon," which "was the greatest 
personage, apatroon or a governor," Avhether "a nobleman who 
had lately been in the colony, as a military officer, or the pa- 
troon, would be likely to have the finest coach," when a butcher's 
boy, who was passing, rudely knocked an apple out of Anneke's 
hand, and caused her to shed a tear. 

I took fire at this unprovoked outrage, and lent the fellow a 
dig in the ribs that gave him to understand the young lady had 
a protector. My chap was about my own age and weight, and 
he surveyed me a minute with a species of contempt, and then 
beckoned me to follow him into an orchard that was hard by, 
but a little out of sight. In spite of Anneke's entreaties I went, 
and Pompey and Cajsar followed. We had both stripped be- 
fore the negroes got up, for they were in a hot discussion whe- 
ther I w^as to be permitted to fight or not. Pompey maintained 
it would keep dinner waiting ; but Caesar, who had the most 
bottom, as became his name, insisted, as I had given a blow, I 
was bound to render satisfaction. Luckily, Mr. Worden was 
very skilful at boxing, and he had given both Dirck and myself 
many lessons, so that I soon found myself the best fellow. I 
gave the butcher's boy a bloody nose and a black eye, when he 
gave in, and I came off victor ; not, however, without a facer or 
two, that sent me to college with a reputation I hardly merited, 
or that of a regular pugilist. 

When I returned to the road, after this breathing, Anneke* 
had disappeared, and I was so shy and silly as not to ask her 
family name from Cajsar the Great, or Pompey the Little. 

* PronouuccJ On-na-A-ay, I believe. — Editok. 



8ATANST0E. 41 



CHAPTER III. 

"Believe me, thou talkest of an admirable conceited fellow. Has lie any unbraided 
wares ?" 
" Pr'ythee, bring him in ; and let him approach singing." Wintee's Tale. 

I nAVE no intention of taking the reader ■witli me tlirougli 
college, where I remained the usual term of four years. These 
four years were not idled away, as sometimes happens, but were 
fairly improved. I read all of the New Testament, in Greek ; 
several of Cicero's Orations; every line of Horace, Satires and 
Odes ; four books of the Iliad ; TuUy de Oratore, throughout ; 
besides paying proper attention to geography, mathematics, and 
other of the usual branches. Moral philosophy, in particular, 
was closely attended to, senior year, as well as astronomy. We 
had a telescope that showed us all four of Jupiter's moons. In 
other respects, Nassau might be called the seat of learning. 
One of our class purchased a second-hand copy of Euripides, in 
town, and we had it in college all of six months ; though it was 
never my good fortune to see it, as the young man who owned 
it was not much disposed to let profane eyes view his treasure. 
Nevertheless, I am certain the copy of the work was in college ; 
and we took good care to let the Yale men hear of it more than 
once. I do not believe they ever saw even the outside of a 
Euripides. As for the telescope, I can testify of my own knowl- 
edge ; having seen the moons of Jupiter as often as ten times, 
with my own eyes, aided by its magnifiers. We had a tutor 
who was expert among the stars, and who, it was generally 
believed, would have been able to see the ring of Saturn, could 
lie have found the planet ; which, as it turned out, he was unable 
to do. 



42 SATANSTOK. 

My four college years were very happy years. The vacations 
came often, and I went liome invariably ; passing a day or two 
with my aunt Lcgge, in going or coming. The acquisition of 
knowledge was always agreeable to me ; and I may say it with- 
out vanity, I trust, at this time of life, I got the third honor of 
my class. We should have graduated four, but one of our class 
was compelled to quit us at the end of junior year, on account 
of his health. He was an unusually hard student, and it was 
generally admitted that he Avould have taken the first honor 
had he remained. We were thought to acquit ourselves with 
credit at the commencement ; although I afterward heard my 
grandfather tell Mr. Worden, that he was of opinion the ad- 
dresses would have been more masculine and commendable, 
had less been said of the surprising growth, prosperity, and 
power of the colonies. He had no objection to the encourage- 
ment of a sound, healthful, patriotic feeling ; but to him it ap- 
peared that something more novel might have better pleased 
the audience. This may have been true, as all three of us had 
something to say on the subject ; and it is a proof how much 
we thought alike, that our language was almost as closely 
assimilated as our ideas. 

As for the Powles' Hook Ferry, it was an unpleasant place I 
will allow ; though by the time I was junior I thought nothing 
of it. My mother, however, was glad when it was passed for 
the last time. I remember the very first words that escaped 
her, after she had kissed me on my final return from college, 
were, " Well, Heaven be praised. Corny ! you will never again 
have any occasion to cross that frightful ferry, now college is 
completely done with ?" My poor mother little knew how 
much greater dangers I was subsequently called on to encounter, 
in another direction. Nor was she minutely accurate in hei 
auticipations, since I have crossed the ferry in question, several 
times in later life ; the distances not appearing to be as great, 
of late years, as they certainly seemed to be in my youth. 

It was a feather in a young man's cap to have gone through 
college, in 1755, which was the year I graduated. It is true, 



SATANSTOE. 43 

tlie university men, who had been home for their learning, 
were more or loss numerous ; but they were of a class that held 
itself aloof from the smaller gentry, and most of them were soon 
placed in office, adding the dignity of public trusts to their 
acquisitions — the former in a manner overshadowing the latter. 
But I was nearer to the body of the community, and my posi- 
tion admitted more of comparative excellence, as it might be. 
No one thinks of certain habits, opinions, manners, and tastes, 
in the circle where they are expected to be found ; but, it is a 
different thing where all, or any of these peculiarities form the 
exception. I am afraid more was anticipated from my college 
education than has ever been realised; but I will say this for 
my Alma Mater ^ that I am not conscious my acquisitions at 
college have ever been of any disadvantage to me ; and I rather 
think they have, in some degree at least, contributed to the 
little success that has attended my humble career. 

I kept up my intimacy with Dirck Follock, during the whole 
time I remained at college. He continued the classics with 
Mr. Worden, for two years after I left the school ; but I could 
not discover that his progress amounted to any thing worth 
mentioning. The master used to tell the colonel that " Dirck's 
progress was slow and sure ;" and this did not fail to satisfy a 
man who had a constitutional aversion to much of the head- 
over-heels rate of doing things among the English population. 
Colonel Follock, as we always called him, except when my 
father or grandfather asked him to di'ink a glass of wine, or 
drank his health in the first glass after the cloth was removed, 
when he was invariably styled Colonel Van Valkenburgh, at full 
length ; but Colonel Follock was quite content that his son and 
heir should know no more than he knew himself, after making 
proper allowances for the difference in years and experience. 
By the time I returned home, however, a material change had 
been made in the school. Mr. Worden fell heir to a moderate 
competency at home, and he gave up teaching, a business he 
had never liked, accordingly. It was even thought he was a 
shade less zealous in his parochial duties, after the acquisition 



44 SATANSTOK. 

of this fifty pounds sterling a-year, than he had previously been ; 
though I am far from insisting on the fact's being so. At any 
rate, it was not in the power of fifty pounds per annum to ren- 
der Mr. Worden apathetic on the subject of the church; for he 
continued a most zealous churchman down to the hour of his 
death; and this was something, even admitting that he was 
not quite so zealous as a Christian. The church being the re- 
pository of the faith, if not the faith itself, it follows that its 
friends are akin to religion, though not absolutely religious. 
I have always Uked a man the better for being what I call a 
sound, warm-hearted churchman, though his habits may have 
been a little free. 

It was necessary to supply the place left vacant by the emi- 
gration of Mr. Worden, or to abandon a school that had got to 
be the nucleus of knowledge in Westchester. There was a 
natural desire, at first, to obtain another scholar from home; 
but no such person offering, a Yale College graduate was ac- 
cepted, though not without sundry rebellions, and plenty of 
distrust. The moment he appeared. Colonel Follock and Major 
Nicholas Oothout, another respectable Dutch neighbor, with- 
drew their sons; and from that hour Dirck never went to 
school again. It is true, Westchester Avas not properly a 
Dutch county, like Kockland, and Albany, and Orange, and 
several others along the river ; but it had many respectable 
families in it, of that extraction, without alluding to such heavy 
people as the Van Cortlands, Felipses, Beekmans, and two or 
three others of that stamp. Most of our important county 
families had a different origin, as in the case of the Morrises, of 
Morrisania, and of the Manor of Fordham, the Pells, of Pelham, 
the Heathcotes, of Mamanneck, the branch of the De Lanceys 
at West Farms, the Jays, of Rye, etc. , ' etc. All these came of 
the English or Huguenot stock. Among these last, more or 
less Dutch blood was to be found, however; though Dutch 
prejudices were a good deal weakened. Although few of these 
persons sent their boys to this school, they were consulted in 
the selection of a master; and I have always supposed that 



SATAN8T0E. 45 

tlieir indift'ereiicc was the cause that the county finally obtained 
the services of a Yankee from Yale. 

The name of the new pedagogue was Jason Newcome, or, as 
he pronounced the latter appellation himself, Noocome. As he 
afiiected a pedantic way of pronouncing the last syllable long, 
or as it was spelt, he rather called himself Noo-comb, instead 
of Newcum, as is the English mode, whence he soon got the 
nickname of Jason Old Comb among the boys ; the lank, or- 
derly arrangement of his jet-black, and somewhat greasy-look- 
ing locks, contributing their share toward procuring for him 
the soubriquet, as I believe the French call it. As this Mr. 
Newcome will have a material part to play in the succeeding 
portions of this narrative, it may be well to be a little more 
minute in his description. 

I found Jason fully established in the school, on my return 
from college. I remember we met very much like two strange 
birds, that see each other for the first time on the same dung- 
hill ; or two quadrupeds, in their original interview in a com- 
mon herd. It was New Haven against Newark ; though the in- 
stitution, after making as many migrations as the House of 
Loretto, finally settled down at Princeton, a short time before 
I took my degree. I was consequently entitled to call myself 
a graduate of Newark — a sort of scholar that is quite as great a 
curiosity in the country as a Queen Anne's farthing, or a book 
printed in the fifteenth century. I remember the first evening 
we two spent in company, as well as if the meeting occurred 
only last night. It was at Satanstoe, and Mr. Worden was 
present. Jason had a liberal supply of Puritanical notions, 
which were bred in-and-in in his moral, and I had almost said, 
in his physical system ; nevertheless, he could unbend ; and I 
did not fail to observe that very evening, a gleam of covert en- 
joyment on his sombre countenance, as the hot-stuff", the cards, 
and the pipes were produced, an hour or two before supper — a 
meal we always had hot and comfortable. This covert satisfac- 
tion, however, was not exhibited without certain misgiving 
looks, as if the neophyte in these innocent enjoyments distrusted 



46 SATANSTOE. 

his right to possess bis sliare. I remember in particular, wben 
my motber laid two or tbree new, clean packs of cards on 
tbe table, that Jason cast a stealtby glance over bis shoulder, 
as if to make certain tbat tbe act was not noted by tbe minister, 
or tbe "neighbors." Tbe neighbors! — what a contemptible 
being a man becomes, who lives in constant dread of the com- 
ments and judgments of these social supervisors 1 -and what a 
wretch, the habit of deferring to no principle better than their 
decision has made many a being, who has had originally tbe 
materials of something better in him, than has been developed 
by the surveillance of ignorance, envy, vulgarity, gossiping and 
lying ! In those cases in which education, social position, op- 
portunities, and experience have made any material difference 
between tbe parties, tbe man who yields to such a government, 
exhibits the picture of a giant held in bondage by a pigmy. I 
have always remarked, too, tbat they who are best qualified to 
sit in this neighborhood-tribunal, generally keep most aloof from 
it, as repugnant to their tastes and habits, thus leaving its deci- 
sions to the portions of tbe community least qualified to make 
such as are either just or enlightened. 

I felt a disposition to laugh outright, at the manner in which 
Jason betrayed a sneaking consciousness of crime, as be saw 
my meek, innocent, simple-minded, just and warm-hearted 
mother lay tbe cards on tbe table that evening. His sense of 
guilt was purely conventional, while my mother's sense of in- 
nocence existed in the absence of false instruction, and in tbe 
purity of her intentions. One had been taught no exaggerated 
and false notion of sin — nay, a notion tbat is impious, as it is 
clearly impious in man to torture acts that are perfectly inno- 
cent per se, into formal transgressions of the law of God — while 
tbe other bad been educated under the narrow and exaggerated 
notions of a jDrovincial sect, and had obtained a species of con- 
science that was purely dependent on bis miserable schooling. 
I heard my grandfather say that Jason actually showed the 
white of his eyes tbe first time be saw Mr. Worden begin to 
deal, and be still looked, the whole tune we were at whist, as 



SATANSTOE. 



41 



if he expected some one miglit enter, and tell of lais delinquency. 
I soon discovered that Jason had a much greater dread of being 
told of, than of doing such things as taking a hand at whist, or 
drinking a glass of punch, from which I inferred his true con- 
science drew perceptible distinctions between the acts and the 
penalties he had been accustomed to see inflicted on them. He 
was much disposed to a certain sort of frailty ; but it was a 
sneaking disposition to the last. 

But the amusing part of the exhibition, that first evening of 
our acquaintance, was Mr. Worden showing off his successor's 
familiarity with the classics. Jason had not the smallest notion 
of quantity ; and he pronounced the Latin very much as one 
would read Mohawk, from a vocabulary made out by a hunter, 
or a savant of the French academy. As I had received the 
benefit of Mr. Worden's own instruction, I could do better, 
and, generally, my knowledge of the classics went beyond that 
of Jason. The latter' s English, too, was long a source of 
amusement with us all, though my grandfather often expressed 
strong disgust at it. Even Colonel Follock did not scruple to 
laugh at Newcome's English, which, as he frequently took oc- 
casion to say, "hat a ferry remarkable sount to it." As this 
peculiarity of Jason's extended a good way into the Anglo- 
Saxon race, in the part of the country in which he was born, it 
may be well to explain what I mean a little more at large. 

Jason was the son of an ordinary Connecticut farmer, of the 
usual associations, and with no other pretension to education 
than such as was obtained in a common school, or any reading 
which did not include the Scriptures, some half a dozen volumes 
of sermons and polemical works, all the latter of which were 
vigorously as well as narrowly one-sided, and a few books that 
had been expressly written to praise New England, and to un- 
dervalue all the rest of the earth. As the family knew nothing 
of the world beyond the limits of its own township, and an 
occasional visit to Hartford, on what is called " election-day," 
Jason's early life was necessarily of the most contracted expe- 
ricuce. His English, as a matter of course, was just that of his 



48 SATANSTOE. 

neighborhood and class of life ; which was far from being eithei 
very elegant or very Doric. But on this rustic, provincial, or 
rather, hamlet foundation, Jason had reared a superstructure 
of New Haven finish and proportions. As he kept school be- 
fore he went to college, while he was in college, and after he 
left college, the whole energies of his nature became strangely 
directed to just such reforms of language as would be apt to 
strike the imagination of a pedagogue of his calibre. In the 
first place, he had brought from home with him a great number 
of sounds that were decidedly vulgar and vicious, and with 
these in full existence in himself, he had commenced his system 
of reform on other people. As is common with all tyros, he 
fancied a very little knowledge suflacient authority for very 
great theories. His first step was to improve the language, by 
adapting sound in spelling, and he insisted on calling angel, an- 
gel, because a-n spelt an; chamber, cham-her, for the same 
reason ; and so on through a long catalogue of similarly con- 
structed words. "English," he did not pronounce as "/n^- 
lish," but as " JS'tt^/lish," for instance; and "nothing" (Anglice 
mith'mg), as noth-mg; or, perhaps, it were better to say ^'■naw- 
thin'." While Jason showed himself so much of a purist with 
these and many other words, he was guilty of some of the 
grossest possible mistakes, that were directly in opposition to his 
own theory. Thus, while he affectedly pronounced " none," 
(nun), as "known," he did not scruple to call "stone," 
"stun," and "home," "hum." The idea of pronouncing 
" clerk," as it should be, or " dark," greatly shocked hjm, as 
it did to call "hearth," "h'arth;" though he did not hesitate 
to call this good earth of ours, the " 'arth." "Been," he pro- 
nounced "ben," of course, and "roof," he called "ruff," in 
spite of all his purism. 

From the foregoing specimens, half a dozen among a thou- 
sand, the reader will get an accurate notion of this weakness in 
Jason's character. It was heightened by the fact that the 
young man commenced his education, such as it was, late in 
life, and it is rare indeed that either knowledge or tastes thus 



SATAN6T0E. 49 

acquired are entirely free froiii exaggeration. Though Jason 
was several years my senior, like myself he was a recent grad- 
uate, and it will be easy enough to imagine the numberless dis- 
cussions that took place between us, on the subject of our 
respective acquisitions. I say " respective," instead of mutual 
acquisitions, because there Avas nothing mutual about it, or 
them. Neither our classics, our philosophy, nor our mathemat- 
ics would seem to have been the same, but each man appar- 
ently kad a science, or a language of his own, and which had 
been derived from the institution where he had been taught. 
In the classics I was much the strongest, particularly in the 
quantities, but Jason had the best of it in mathematics. In 
spite of his conceit, his vulgarity, his English, his provincialism, 
and the awkwardness with which he wore his tardily acquired 
information, this man had strong points about him, and a native 
shrewdness that would have told much more in his favor had it 
not been accompanied by a certain evasive manner, that caused 
one constantly to suspect his sincerity, and which often induced 
those who were accustomed to him, to imagine he had a sneak- 
ing propensity that rendered him habitually hypocritical. 
Jason held New York in great contempt, a feeling he was not 
always disposed to conceal, and of necessity his comparisons 
were usually made with the state of things in Connecticut, and 
much to the advantage of the latter. To one thing, however, 
he was much disposed to defer, and that was money. Connec- 
ticut had not then, nor has it now, a single individual who 
would be termed rich in New York ; and Jason, spite of his 
provincial conceit, spite of his overweening notions of moral 
and intellectual superiority, could no more prevent this profound 
deference for wealth, than he could substitute for a childhood 
of vulgarity and neglect, the grace, refinement and knowledge 
which the boys of the more fortunate classes in life obtain as it 
might be Avithout knowing it. Yes, Jason bowed down to the 
golden calf, in spite of his Puritanispi, his love of liberty, his 
pretension to equality and the general strut of his disposition 
and manner. 
3 



60 SATANSTOK. 

Such is an outline of the character and qualifications of the 
man -whom I found, on my return from college, at the head of 
Mr. "Worden's school. We soon became acquainted, and I do 
not know which got the most ideas from the other, in course 
of the first fortnight. Our conversation and arguments were 
free, almost to rudeness, and little mercy was shown to our re- 
spective prejudices. Jason was ultra levelling in his notions of 
social intercourse, while I had the opinions of my own colony, 
in which the distinctions of classes are far more strongly 
marked than is usual in New England, out of Boston, and its 
immediate association. Still Jason defeiTcd to names, as well 
as money, though it was in a way very diiFcrcnt from my own. 
New England was, and is, loyal to the crown; but having the 
right to name many of its own governors, and possessing many 
other political privileges through the charters that were gi-anted 
to her people, in order to induce them to settle that portion of 
the continent, they do not always manifest the feeling in a way 
to be agreeable to those who have a proper reverence for the 
crown. Among other points, growing out of this difference in 
training, Jason and I had sundry arguments on the subject of 
professions, trades and callings. It was evident he fancied the 
occupation of a schoolmaster next in honor to that of a clergy- 
man. The clergy formed a species of aristocracy, according to 
his notions ; but no man could commence life under more 
favorable auspices, than by taking a school. The following 
dialogue occurred between us, on this subject ; and I was so 
much struck with the novelty of my companion's notions, as to 
make a note of it, as soon as we parted. 

" I wonder your folks don't think of giving you suthin' to do, 
Corny," commenced Jason, one day, after our acquaintance 
had ripened into a sort of belligerent intimacy. " You're near 
nineteen, now, and ought to begin to think of bringing suthin' 
in, to pay for all the outgoin's." 

By "your folks," Jason meant the family of Littlepage ; 
and the blood of that family quickened a little within me, at 
the idea of being profitably employed, in the manner inti- 



SATANSTOE. 51 

mated, because I liad readied tlie mature and profitable age of 
nineteen. 

" I do not understand you exactly, Mr. Newcome, by your 
bringing sometbing in," answered I, with dignity enough to 
put a man of ordinary delicacy on his guard. 

" Bringing suthin' in is good English, I hope, Mr. Littlepage. 
I mean that your edication has cost your folks enough to warrant 
them in calling on you for a little interest. How much do you 
suppose, now, has been spent on your edication, beginning at 
the time you first went to Mr. Worden, and leaving off the day 
you quitted Newark ?" 

" Really, I have not the smallest notion ; the subject has 
never crossed my mind." 

*' Did the old folks never say any thing to you about it ? — 
never foot up the total ?" 

" I am sure it is not easy to see how this could be done, for 
I could not help them in the least." 

"But your father's books would tell that, as doubtless it all 
stands charged against you." 

'* Stands charged against me ! How, sir ! do you imagine 
my father makes a charge in a book against me, whenever he 
pays a few pounds for my education ?" 

" Certainly ; how else could he tell how much you have 
had ? — though, on reflection, as you are an only child, it does 
not make so much difference. You probably will get all, in the 
end." 

" And had I a brother, or a sister, do you imagine, Mr. 
Newcome, each shilling we spent would be set down in a book, 
as charges against us ?" 

*' How else, in natur', could it be known which had had the 
most, or any sort of justice be done between you?" 

"Justice would be done, by our common father's giving to 
each just as much of his own money as he might see fit. What 
is it to me, if he chose to give my bi other a few hundred pounds 
more than he chose to give me ? The money is his, and he 
may do with it as he choose." 



62 SATANSTOE. 

" An hundred pounds is an awful siglit of money !" exclaimed 
Jason, betraying by his countenance how deeply he felt the 
truth of this. " If you have had money in such large sums, so 
much the more reason why you should set about doing suthin' 
to repay the old gentleman. Why not set up a school!" 

*'Sir!" 

" Why not set up a school, I say ? You might have had 
this of mine, had you been a little older ; but once in, fast in, 
with me. Still, schools are wanted, and you might get a toler- 
able good recommend. I dare say your tutor would furnish 
a certificate." 

This word "recommend" was used by Jason for "recom- 
mendation ;" the habit of putting verbs in the places of sub- 
stantives, and vice versa, being much in vogue with him. 

" And do you really think that one who is destined to 
inherit Satanstoe, would act advisedly to set up a school ? 
liecoUect, Mr. Newcome, that my father and grandfather have 
both borne the king's commission ; and that the last bears it, at 
this very moment, through his representative, the governor." 

"What of all that? What better business is there than 
keeping a good school ? If you are high in your notions, get 
to be made a tutor in that New Jersey college. Recollect 
that a tutor in a college is somebody. I did hope for such a 
place, but having a governor's son against me, as a candidate, 
there was no chance." 

" A governor's son a candidate for a tutorship in a college ! 
You are pleased to trifle with me, Mr. Newcome." 

"It's true as the gospel. You thought some smaller fish 
put me down, but he was the son of the governor. But, why 
do you give that vulgar name to your father's farm — Satanstoe 
is not decent; yet. Corny, I've heard you use it before your 
own mother!" 

" That you may hear every day, and my mother use it too, 
before her own son. What fault do you find with the name of 
Satanstoe 1" 

" Fault ! — In the first place it is irreligious and profane ; then 



SATANSTOE. 63 

it is ungenteel and vulgar, and only fit to be used in low com- 
pany. Moreover, it is opposed to history and revelation, the 
evil one having a huft', if you will, but no toes. Such a name 
couldn't stand a fortnight before public opinion in New Eng- 
land." 

"Yes, that may be very true ; but we do not care enough for 
his Satanic majesty in the colony of New York, to treat him 
with so much deference. As for the ' huffs,' as you call 
them " 

"Why, what do you call 'em, Mr. Littlepage?" 

" Hoofs, Mr. Newcome ; that is the New York pronunciation 
of the word." 

" I care nothing for York pronunciation, which every body 
knows is Dutch anl full of corruptions. You'll never do any 
thing worth speaking of in this colony, Corny, until you pay 
more attention to your schools." 

" I do not know what you call attention, Mr. Jason, unless 
we have paid it already. Here, I have the caption, or rather 
preamble of a law, on that very subject, that I copied out of 
the statute-book on purpose to show you, and which I will now 
read in order to prove to you how things really stand in the 
colony." 

" Read away," rejoined Jason, with an air of sufficient 
disdain. 

Read I did, and in the following sententious and compre- 
hensive language, viz, : — " Whereas the youth of this colony 
are found, by manifold experience, to be not inferior in their 
natural geniuses to the youth of any other country in the world, 
therefore be it enacted, etc."* 

* Tliis (quotation would seem to be nccurato, and it is somewhat curious to trace 
the reason why a preamble so singular should have been prefixed to the law. Was it 
not owing to the oft-repeated and bold assertions of Europeans, that man deteriorated 
in this hemisphere ? Any American who has been a near observer of European opin- 
ion even in our day, must have been frequently amused at the expression of surprise 
and doubt that so oftjn escapes the residents of the old world, when they discover 
any thing that particilarly denotes talent coming from the new. I make little ques- 
tion that this extraordinary preamble is a sort of indirect answer to an imputation 
that was known to bo as general, in that age, as it was felt to bo unjust. My own cs- 



54 SATANSTOE, 

"Tliere, sir," I said in exultation, "you have chapter and 
verse for the true character of the rising generation in the col- 
ony of New York." 

"And what does that preamble lead to ?" demanded Jason, 
a little staggered at finding the equality of our New York intel- 
lects established so clearly by legislative enactment. 

" It is the preamble to an act establishing the free schools of 
New York, in which the learned languages have now been 
taught these twenty years ; and you will please to remember 
that another law has not long been passed, establishing a college 
in town." 

" Well, curious laws do sometimes get into the statute-books, 
and a body must take them as he finds them. I dare say Con- 
necticut might have a word to say on the same subject, if you 
would give her a chance. Have you heard the wonderful news 
from Philadelphia, Corny, that has just come among us?" 

"I have heard nothing of late; for you know I have been 
over in Rockland, with Dirck FoUock, for the last two weeks, 
and news never reaches that family, or indeed that county." 

"No, that is true enough," answered Jason, dryly; "News 
and a Dutchman have no affinity, or attraction, as we would say 
in philosophy ; though there is gravitation enough on one side, 
ha! boy?" 

Here Jason laughed outright, for he was always delighted 
whenever he coidd get a side-hit at the children of Holland, 
whom he appeared to regard as a race occupying a position be- 
tween the human family and the highest class of the unintelldc- 
tual animals. But it is unnecessary to dwell longer on this 
dialogue, my object being merely to show tho general charac- 

perience would lead me to think native capacity more abundant in America than in 
the midland countries of Europe, and quite as frequently met with as in Italy itself; 
and I have often heard teachers, both English and French, admit that their American 
and West India scholars were generally the readiest and cleverest in their schools. 
The great evil under which this country labors, in this respect, is the sway of num- 
bers, which is constantly elevating mediocrity and spurious talent to high places. In 
America we have a higher average of intelligence, while we have far less of the 
higher class ; and I attribute the latter foct to the control of those who have neve: 
enjoyed the means of appreciating excellence. — Editou. 



SATANSTOE. 55. 

tcr of Jason's train of thought, in order to be better understood 
when I come to connect his opinions with his acts. 

Dirck and myself were much together after my return from 
college. I passed weeks at a time with him, and he returned 
my visits with the utmost freedom and good will Each of us 
had now got his gro'wi.h, and it would have done the heart of 
Frederick of Prussia good, to have seen my young friend after 
he had ended his nineteenth year. In stature he measured 
exactly six feet three, and he gave every promise of filling up in 
proportion. Dirck was none of your roundly-turned, Apollo- 
built fellows, but he had shoulders that his little, short, solid, 
but dumpy-looking mother, who was of the true stock, could 
scarcely span, when she pulled his head down to give him a 
kiss ; which she did regularly, as Dirck told me himself, twice 
each year ; that is to say, Christmas and New-Year. His com- 
plexion was fair, his limbs large and well proportioned, his hair 
light, his eyes blue, and his face would have been thought hand- 
some by most persons. I will not deny, however, that there 
was a certain ponderosity, both of mind and body, about my 
friend, that did not very well accord with the general notion of 
grace and animation. Nevertheless, Dirck was a sterling fellow, 
as true as steel, as brave as a game-cock, and as honest as noon- 
day light. 

Jason was a very different sort of j^erson, in many essentials. 
In figure, he was also tall, but he was angular, loose-jointed and 
swinging — slouching would be the better word, perhaps. Still, 
he was not without strength, having worked on a farm until he 
was near twenty ; and he was as active as a cat ; a result that 
took the stranger a little by surprise, when he regarded only 
his loose, quavering sort of build. In the way of thought, Jason 
would think two feet to Dirck's one ; but I am far from certain 
that it was always in so correct a direction. Give the Dutch- 
man time, he was very apt to come out right ; whereas Jason, I 
soon discovered, was quite liable to come to wrong conclusions, 
and particularly so in all matters that Avere a little adverse, and 
which aflcctcd his own apparent interests. Dirck, moreover, 



66 SATANSTOE. 

was one of tlie best-nalured fellows that breathed ; it being almost 
impossible to excite him to anger ; v/hen it did come, however, 
the earthquake was scarcely more terrific. I have seen him 
enraged, and would as soon encounter a wild-boar in an open 
field, as run against his course, while in the fit. 

Modesty will hardly permit me to say much of myself. I 
was well-grown, active, strong, for my years ; and, I am inclined 
to think, reasonably well-looking ; though I would prefer that 
this much should be said by any one but myself. Dirck and 1 
often tried our manhood together, when youngsters, and I was 
the better chap until my friend reached his eighteenth year, 
Avhen the heavy metal of the young Dutch giant told in our 
struggles. After that period was past, I found Dirck too much 
for me, in a close gripe, though my extraordinary activity ren- 
dered the inequality less apparent than it might otherwise have 
proved. I ought not to apply the term of " extraordinary" 
to any thing about myself, but the word escaped me uncon- 
sciously, and I shall let it stand. One thing I will say, not- 
withstanding, let the reader think of it as he may : I was good- 
natured and well-disposed to my fellow-creatures, and had no 
greater love of money than was necessary to render me reason- 
ably discreet. 

Such is an outline of the characters and persons of three of 
the principal actors in the scenes I am about to relate ; scenes 
that will possess some interest for those who love to read ac- 
counts of adventures in a new country, however much they may 
fail in interesting others, when I speak of the condition and 
events of the more civilized condition of society, that was en- 
joyed, even in my youth, in such old counties as Westchester, 
and such towns as York. 



SATANSTOE. 



67 



CHAPTER IV. 



** Let us, then, be up and doing, 
With a lieart for any fate ; 
Still achieving, still pursuing, 
Learn to labor and to wait. 

Longfellow. 



The spring of the year I was twenty, Dirck and myself paid 
our first visit to town, in the characters of young men. Although 
Satanstoe was not more than five-and-twenty miles from New 
York, by the way of Kingsbridge, the road we always travel- 
led in order to avoid the ferry, it was by no means as common 
to visit the capital as it has since got to be. I know gentle- 
men who pass in and out from our neighborhood, now, as often 
as once a fortnight, or even once a week ; but thirty years since 
this was a thing very seldom done. My dear mother always 
went to town twice a year ; in the spring to pass Easter week, 
and in the autumn to make her winter purchases. My father 
usually went down four times, in the course of the twelve 
months, but he had the reputation of a gadabout, and was 
thought by many people to leave home quite as much as he 
ought to do. As for my grandfather, old age coming on, he 
seldom left home now, unless it were to pay stated visits to 
certain old brother campaigners who lived within moderate 
distances, and with whom he invariably passed weeks each 
summer. 

The visit I have mentioned occurred some time after Easter, 
a season of the year that many of our country families were in 
the habit of passing in town, to have the benefit of the daily 
services of old Trinity, as the Hebrews resorted to Jerusalem to 
keep the feast of the passover. My mother did not go to town 
this year, on account of my father's gout, and I was sent to 



58 SATANSTOE. 

supply licr place with my aunt Lcgge, wlio had been so long 
accustomed to have one of the family with her at that season, 
that I was substituted. Dirck had relatives of his own, with 
whom he staid, and thus every thing was rendered smooth. 
In order to make a fair start, ray friend crossed the Hudson the 
week before, and, after taking breath at Satanstoe for three 
days, we left the Neck for the capital, mounted on a pair of as 
good roadsters as were to be found in the country : and that is 
saying a good deal ; for the Morrises, and De Lanceys, and Van 
Cortlands all kept racers, and sometimes gave us good sport, 
in the autumn, over the county course. Westchester, to say 
no more than she deserved, was a county with a spirited gentry, 
and one of which no colony need be ashamed. 

My mother was a tender-hearted parent, and full of anxiety 
in behalf of an only child. She knew that travelling always has 
more or less of hazard, and was desirous wd should be off be- 
times, in order to make certain of our reaching town before the 
night set in. Highway robbers, Heaven be praised ! were then, 
and are still, unknown to the colonies ; but there were other 
dangers that gave my excellent parent much concern. All the 
bridges were not considered safe ; the roads were, and are yet, 
very circuitous, and it was possible to lose one's way ; while it 
was said persons had been known to pass the night on Harlem 
common, an uninhabited waste that lies some seven or eight 
miles on our side of the city. My mother's first care, there- 
fore, was to get Dirck and myself off early in the morning ; in 
order to do which she rose with the light, gave us our break- 
fasts immediately afterward, and thus enabled us to quit Satans- 
toe just as the sun had burnished the eastern sky with its tints 
of flame color. 

Dirck was in high good-humor that morning, and, to own 
the truth, Corny did not feel the depression of spirits which, 
according to the laws of propriety, possibly ought to have at- 
tended the first really free departure of so youthful an adven- 
turer from beneath the shadows of the paternal roof. We went 
our way laughing and chatting, like two girls just broke loose 



SATANSTOE. 59 

from boarding-scliool. I liad never known Dirclc more com- 
municative, and I got certain new insights into liis feelings, 
expectations, and prospects, as we rode along the colony's Mgli- 
way that morning, that afterward proved to be matters of much 
interest with us both. We had not got a mile from the chim- 
ney-tops of Satanstoe, ere my friend broke forth as follows : — 

" I suppose you have heard. Corny, what the two old gentle- 
men have been at, lately V 

"Your father and mine? — I have not heard a syllable of any 
thing new." 

"They have been suing out, before the governor and council, 
a joint claim to that tract of land they bought of the Mo- 
hawks, the last time they were out together on service, in the 
colony militia." 

I ought to mention here, that though my predecessors had 
made but few campaigns in the regular army, each had made 
several in the more humble capacity of a mUitia officer. 

"This is new§ to me, Dirck," I answered. "Why should 
the old gentlemen have been so sly about such a thing?" 

"I cannot tell you, lest they thought silence the best way to 
keep off the Yankee. You know my father has a great dread 
of a Yankee's getting a finger into any of his bargains. Ho 
says the Yankees are the locusts of the west." 

"But how came you to know any thing about it, Dirck?" 

"I am no Yankee, Corny." 

"And your father told yow, on the strength of this recom- 
mendation?" 

"He told me, as he tells me most things that he thinks it 
best I should know. We smoke together, and then we talk 
together." 

"I would learn to smoke too, if I thought I should get any 
useful information by so doing." 

"Dere is much to be I'amt from ter pipe!" said Dirck, drop- 
ping into a slightly Dutch accent, as frequently happened with 
him, when his mind took a secret direction toward Holland, 
though in general he spoke English quite as well as I did my- 



60 SATANSTOE. 

self, and vastly better tLan that miracle of taste, and learning, 
and virtue, and piety, Mr. Jason Newcome, A. B., of Yale, and 
prospective president of that, or some other institution. 

"So it would seem, if your father is telling you secrets all 
the time you are smoking together. But where is this land, 
Dirck?" 

"It is in the Mohawk country — or, rather, it is in the coun- 
try near the Hampshire grants, and at no great distance from 
the Mohawk country." 

" And how much may there be of it?" 

"Forty thousand acres; and some of it of good, rich flats, 
they say ; such as a Dutchman loves." 

"And your father and mine have purchased all this land in 
company, you say — share and share alike, as the lawyers call it." 

"Just so." 

"Pray, how much did they pay for so large a tract of land I" 

Dirck took time to answer this question. He first drew from 
his breast a pocket-book, which he opened as well as he could 
under the motion of his roadster, for neither of us abated his 
speed, it being indispensable to reach town before dark. My 
friend succeeded at length in putting his hand on the paper he 
wanted, which he gave to me. 

"There," he said; "that is a list of the articles paid to the 
Indians, which I have copied, and then there have been several 
hundred pounds of fees paid to the governor and his oflScers." 

I read from the list as follows ; the words coming out by 
jerks, as the trotting of my horse permitted. "Fifty blankets, 
each with yellow strings and yellow trimmings; ten iron pots, 
four gallons each; forty pounds of gunpowder; seven muskets; 
twelve pounds of small beads; ten strings of wampum; fifty 
gallons of rum, pure Jamaica, and of high proof; a score of 
Jews-harps, and three dozen first quality English-made toma- 
hawks." 

"Well, Dirck," I cried, as soon as through reading, "this is 
no great matter to give for forty thousand acres of land, in the 
colony of New York. I dare say, a hundred pounds currency 



SATANSTOE. 61 

(two hundred and fifty dollars) would buy every tiling here, 
even to the rum and the first quality of Englisli-made toma- 
hawks." 

"Ninety-six pounds, thirteen shillings, sevenpenco 't'ree 
fart'in's' Avas the footing of the whole bill," answered Dirck 
deUberately, preparing to light his pipe ; for he could smoke 
very conveniently while trotting no faster than at the rate of 
six miles the hour. 

"I do not find that dear for forty thousand acres; I suppose 
the muskets, and rum, and other things were manufactured ex- 
pressly for the Indian trade." 

'* Not they, Corny; you know how it is with the old gentle- 
men — they are as honest as the day." 

"So much the better for them, and so much the better for 
us! But what is to be done with this land, now they own 
it?" 

Dirck did not answer until we had trotted twenty rods ; for 
by this time the pipe was at work, and the moment the smoke 
was seen he kept his eye on it, until he saw a bright light in 
front of his nose. 

"The first thing will be to find it, Corny. When a patent is 
signed and delivered, then you must send forth some proper 
person to find the land it covers. I have heard of a gentleman 
who got a grant of ten thousand acres, five years since ; and 
though he has had a himt for it every summer since, he has not 
been able to find it yet. To be sure, ten thousand acres is a 
small object to look for, in the woods." 

"And our fathers intend to find this land as soon as the 
season opens ?" 

"Not so fast, Corny; not so fast! that was the scheme of 
your father's Welsh blood, but mine takes matters more delib- 
erately. Let us wait until next year, he said, and then we can 
send the boys. By that time, too, the war will take some sort 
of a shape, and we shall know better how to care for the chil- 
dren. The subject has been fairly talked over between the two 
patentees, and we are to go early next spring, not this." 



63 SATANSTOE. 

The idea of laud-hunting was not in the least disagreeable to 
me ; nor was it unpleasant to think that I stood in reversion, 
or as heir to twenty thousand acres of land, in addition to those 
of Satanstoe. Dirck and I talked the matter over, as we trotted 
on, until both of us began to regret that the expedition was so 
far in perspective. 

The war to which Dirck alluded, had broken out a few 
months before our visit to town ; a Mr. Washington, of Vir- 
ginia — the same who has since become so celebrated as the 
Colonel Washington of Braddock's defeat, and other events at 
the south — having been captured, with a party of his men, in 
a small work thrown up in the neighborhood of the French, 
somewhere on the tributaries of the Ohio ; a river that is known 
to run into the Mississippi, a vast distance to the west. I knew 
very little then, nor do I know much now, of these remote 
regions, beyond the fact that there are such places, and that 
they are sometimes visited by detachments, war-parties, hun- 
ters and other adventurers from the colonies. To me, it seems 
scarce worth fighting about such distant and wild territory ; for 
ages and ages must elapse before it can be of any service for 
the purposes of civilization. Both Dirck and myself regretted 
that the summer would be likely to go by without our seeing 
the enemy ; for we came of families that were commonly em- 
ployed on such occasions. We thought both our fathers might 
be out ; though even that was a point that still remained under 
discussion. 

We dined and baited at Kingsbridge, intending to sup in 
town. While the dinner was cooking, Dirck and I walked out 
on the heights that overlook the Hudson ; for I knew less ot 
this noble river than I wished to know of it. We conversed 
as we walked ; and my companion, who knew the river much 
better than myself, having many occasions to pass up and down 
it, between the village of Haverstraw and town, in his frequent 
visits to his relatives below, gave me some useful information. 

"Look here. Corny," said Dirck, after betraying a good 
deal of desire to obtain a view of some object in the distance, 



SATAN STOE. 63 

along tLo river-side ; " look licrc, Corny, do you see yonder 
house, in the little bay below us, with the lawn that extends 
down to the water, and that noble orchard behind it?" 

I saw the object to which Dirck alluded. It was a house 
that stood near the river, but sheltered and secluded, Avith the 
lawn and orchard as described ; though at the distance of some 
two or three miles, all the beauties of the spot could not be 
discovered, and many of them had to be received on the faith 
of my companion's admiration. Still, I saw very plainly, all 
the objects named; and, among others, the house, the orchard, 
and the lawn. The building was of stone — as is common with 
most of the better sort of houses in the country — was long, 
irregular, and had that air of solid comfort about it, which it 
is usual to see in buildings of that description. The walls were 
not whitewashed, according to the lively tastes of our Dutch 
fellow-colonists, who appear to expend all their vivacity in the 
pipe and the brush, but were left in their native gray; a circum- 
stance that rendered the form and dimensions of the structure 
a Uttle less distinct, at a first glance, than they might otherwise 
have proved. As I gazed at the spot, however, I began to 
fancy it a charm, to find the picture thus sobered down ; and 
found a pleasure in drawing the different angles, and walls, and 
chimneys, and roofs, from this back-ground, by means of the 
organ of sight. On the whole, I thought the little sequestered 
bay, the wooded and rocky shores, the small but well-distrib- 
uted lawn, the orchard, with all the other similar accessories, 
formed together one of the prettiest places of the sort I had 
ever seen. Thinking so, I was not slow in saying as much to 
my companion. I was thought to have some taste in these 
matters, and had been consulted on the subject of laying out 
grounds by one or two neighbors in the county. 

"Whose house is it, Dirck?" I inquired; "and how came 
you to know any thing about it?" 

" That is Lilacsbush," answered my friend ; " and it belongs 
to my mother's cousin, Herman Mordaunt." 

I had heard of Herman, or, as it is pronounced, Ilarman 



C4 S A T A N S T O E . 

Mordaunt. He was a man of considcraLlc note in tlie colony, 
having been the son of a Major Mordaunt, of the British army, 
who had married the heiress of a Avealthy Dutch merchant, 
whence the name of Herman ; which had descended to the 
son along with the money. The Dutch were so fond of their 
own blood, that they never failed to give this Mr. Mordaunt his 
Christian name, and he was usually known in the colony as 
Herman Mordaunt. Further than this, I knew little of the 
gentleman, unless it might be that he was reputed rich, and 
was admitted to be in the best society, though not actually be- 
longing to the territorial or political aristocracy of the colony. 

" As Herman Mordaunt is your mother's cousin, I suppose, 
Dirck," I resumed, "that you have been at Lilacsbush, and 
ascertained whether the inside of the house is as pleasant and 
respectable as the outside." 

"Often, Corny; while Madam Mordaunt lived, my mother 
and I used to go there every summer. The poor lady is now 
dead, but I go there still." 

"Why did you not ride on as far as Lilacsbush, and levy a 
dinner on your relations ? I should think Herman Mordaunt 
would feel hurt, were he to learn that an acquaintance, or a 
relation, had put up at an inn, within a couple of miles of his 
own house. I dare say he Icnows both Major and Captain 
Littlepage, and I protest I shall feel it necessary to send him a 
note of apology for not calling. These things ought not to be 
done, Dirck, among persons of a certain stamp, and who are 
supposed to know what is proper." 

"This would be all right enough, Corny, had Herman Mor- 
daunt, or his daughter, been at Lilacsbush; but they live in 
Crown street, in town, in winter, and never come out here 
until after the Pinkster holidays, let them come when they 
may." 

" Oh ! he is as great a man as that, is he ? — a town and coun- 
try house ; after all, I do not know whether it would do to be 
quite so free with one of his standing, as to go to dine with 
him without scndincf notice." 



S A T A N S T O E . 65 

' " Nonsense, Corny. Who hesitates about stopping at a gen- 
tleman's door, when he is travelling? Herman Mordaunt would 
have given us a hearty welcome, and I should have gone on to 
Lilacsbush, did I not know that the family is certain to be in 
town at this season. Easter came early this year, and to-mor- 
row will be the first day of the Pinkster holidays. As soon as 
they are over, Herman Mordaunt and Anneke will be out here 
to enjoy their lilacs and roses." 

" Oh, ho ! there is an Anneke, as well as the old gentleman. 
Pray, how old may Miss Anneke be, Master Dirck?" 

As this question was asked, I turned to look my friend in 
the face, and I found that his handsome, smooth, fair, Dutch 
lineaments were covered with a glow of red, that it was not 
usual to see extended so far from his ruddy cheeks. Dirck was 
too much of a man, however, to turn away, or to try to hide 
blushes so ingenuous; but he answered stoutly: — 

"My cousin, Anneke Mordaunt, is just turned of seventeen; 
and, ril tell you what, Corny — " 

"Well — I am listening with both ears, to hear your ivhat — 
out with it, man ; both ears are open." 

" Why, Anneke (On-na-^ay) is one of the very prettiest girls 
in the colony! What is more, she is as sweet and goot" — 
Dirck grew Dutch, as he grew animated — " as she is pretty." 

I was quite astounded at the energy and feeling with which 
this was said. Dirck was such a matter-of-fact fellow, that I 
had never dreamed he could be sensible to the passion of love ; 
nor had I ever paused to analyze the nature of our own friend- 
ship. We liked each other, in the first place, most probably 
from habit ; then, we were of characters so essentially different, 
that our attachment was influenced by that species of excite- 
ment which is the child of opposition. As we grew older, 
Dirck's good qualities began to command my respect, and rea- 
son entered more into my affection for him. I was well con- 
vinced that my companion could and would prove to be a warm 
friend ; but the possibility of his ever becoming a lover, had 
not before crossed my mind. Even then, the impression made 



60 SATAN STOK. 

was not very deep or lasting, though I well remember the sort 
of admiration and wonder with which I gazed at his flushed 
cheek, animated eye, and improved mien. For the moment, 
Dirck really had a commanding and animated air. 

*' AVhy, Anneke is one of the prettiest girls in the colony 1" 
my friend had exclaimed. 

" And your cousin ?" 

" My second cousin. Iler mother's father and my mother's 
mother were brother and sister." 

" In that case, I shall hope to have the honor of being intro- 
duced one of these days to Miss Anneke Mordaunt, who is just 
turned of seventeen, and is one of the prettiest girls in the 
colony, and is as good as she is pretty." 

*' I wish you to see her Corny, and that before we go home," 
Dirck replied, all his philosophy, or phlegm, whichever the 
philosophy of other people may term it, returning; "come; 
let us go back to the inn ; our dinner will be getting cold." 

I mused on my friend's unusual manner, as we walked back 
toward the inn ; but it was soon forgotten, in the satisfaction 
produced by eating a good, substantial meal of broiled ham, 
with hot potatoes, boiled eggs, a beefsteak done to a turn, with 
the accessions of pickles, cold-slaw, apple-pie, and cider. Tliis 
is a common New York tavern dinner, for the wayfarer ; and, 
I must say, I have got to like it. Often have I enjoyed such a 
repast, after a sharp forenoon's ride ; ay, and enjoyed it more 
than I have relished entertainments at which have figured tur- 
keys, oysters, hams, hashes, and other dishes that have higher 
reputations. Even turtle-soup, for which we are somewhat 
famous in New York, has failed to give me the same delight. 

Dirck, to do him justice, ate heartily ; for it is not an easy 
matter to take away his appetite. As usual, I did most of the 
talking ; and that was with our landlady, who, hearing I was a 
son of her much-esteemed and constant customer. Major Little- 
page, presented herself with the dessert and cheese, and did 
me the honor to commence a discourse. Her name was Light; 
and light was she certain to cast on every thing she discussed ; 



S A T A N S T O E . 6'5 

tliat is to say, innkeeper's liglit ; -wliicli partakes somewliat of 
the darkness that is so apt to overshadow no small portion of 
the minds of her many customers. 

"Pray, Mrs. Light," I asked, •when there was an opening, 
■which was not until the good woman had exhausted her breath 
in honor of the Littlepages, " do you happen to know any thing 
of a family, hereabouts, of the name of Mordaunt 1" 

" Do I happen to know, sir ! — Why, Mr. Littlepage, you 
might almost as well have asked me, if I had ever heard of a 
Van Cortlandt, or a Philipse, or a Morris, or any other of the 
gentry hereabouts. Mr. Mordaunt has a country-place, and a 
very pretty one it is, Avithin two miles and a half of us ; and he 
and Madam Mordaunt never passed our door, when they went 
into the country to see Madam Van Cortlandt, without stop- 
ping to say a word, and leave a shilling. The poor lady is 
dead ; but there is a young image of her virtues, that is coming 
a'ter her, that will be likely to do some damage in the colony. 
She is modesty itself, sir ; so I thought it could do her no harm, 
the last time she was here, just to tell her, she ought to be 
locked up, for the thefts she was likely to commit, if not for 
them she had committed already. She blushed, sir, and looked 
for all the world like the shell of the most delicate boiled 
lobster you ever laid eyes on. She is truly a charming young 
lady !" 

*' Thefts of hearts, you mean of course, my good Mrs. Light?" 

"Of nothing else, sir; young ladies are apt to steal heai-ts, 
you know. My word for it. Miss Anneke will turn out a great 
robber, after her own fashion, you know, sir." 

"And whose hearts is she likely to run away with, pray ? I 
should be pleased to hear the names of some of the sufferers." 

"Lord, sir! — she is too young to have done much yet, but 
wait a twelvemonth, and I'll answer the question," 

I could see all this time that Dirck was uneasy, and had some 
amusement in watching the workings of his countenance. My 
malicious intentions, however, were suddenly inteiTupted. As 
if to prevent further discourse, and, at the same time, further 



68 SATAN STOE. 

espionage, my young friend rose from table, ordering tLo Uorse.s 
and the bill. 

During tbe ride to town, no more was said of Lilacybusli, 
Herman Mordaunt, or liis daughter Anneke. Dirck Avas silent, 
but this was his habit after dinner, and I was kept a good deal 
on the alert in order to find the road which crossed the com- 
mon, it being our desire to go in that direction. It is true, we 
might have gone into town by the way of Bloomingdale, Green- 
wich, the meadows and the Collect, and so down past the com- 
mon upon the head of Broadway ; but my mother had particu- 
larly desired we would fall into the Bowery lane, passing the 
seats that are to be found in that quarter, and getting into 
Queen street as soon as possible. By taking this course she 
thought we should be less likely to miss our way within the 
town itself, which is certainly full of narrow and intricate pas- 
sages. My uncle Legge had removed into Duke street, in the 
vicinity of Hanover Square ; and Queen street, I well knew, 
would lead us directly to his door. Queen street, indeed, is 
the great aiiery of New York, through which most of its blood 
circulates. 

It was drawing toward night when we trotted up to the 
stable, where we left our horses, and obtaining a black to 
shoulder our portmanteaus, we began to thread the mazes of 
the capital on foot, l^ew York was certainly, even in 1757, a 
wonderful place for commerce ! Vessels began to be seen some 
distance east of Fly Market, and there could not have been 
fewer than twenty ships, brigs, and schooners, lying in the East 
River, as we walked down Queen street. Of course I include all 
descriptions of vessels that go to sea, in this estimate. 'At the 
present moment, it is probable twice that number would be 
seen. There Dirck and I stopped more than once, involuntarily, 
to gaze at the exhibitions of wealth and trade that offered them- 
selves as we went deeper into the town. My mother had par- 
ticularly cautioned me against falling into this evidence of coun- 
try habits, and I felt much ashamed at each occurrence of the 
weakness ; but I found it irresistible. At length my friend 



8 ATANST OE. C9 

and I parted ; lie to go to tlie residence of liis aunt, -wliile I 
proceeded to that of mine. Before separating, however we 
agreed to meet next morning in the fields at the head of Broad- 
way, on the common, which, as it was understood, was to be 
the scene of the Pinkster sports. 

My reception in Duke street was cordial, both on the part 
of my uncle and on the part of my aunt ; the first being a good- 
hearted person, though a little too apt to run into extravagance 
on the subject of the rights of the rabble. I was pleased with 
the welcome I received, enjoyed an excellent hot supper, to 
which we sat down at half-past eight, my aunt being fond of 
town hours, both dining and supping a little later than my 
mother, as being more fashionable and genteel.* As I was 
compelled to confess fatigue, after so long a ride, as soon as we 
quitted the table I retired to my own room. 

The next day was the first of the three that are devoted to 
Pinkster, the great Saturnalia of the New York blacks. Al- 
though this festival is always kept with more vivacity at Albany 
than in York, it is far from being neglected, even now, in the 
latter place. I had told my aunt, before I left her, I should not 
wait for breakfast, but should be up with the sun, and off in 

* The dinner of the last half-century is, in one sense, but a substitute for the peiita 
soupers of the century or two that preceded. It is so entirely rational and natural, 
that the cultivated and refined should meet for the purposes of social enjoyment after 
the business of the day has terminated, that the supper has only given place to the 
samo meal nnder another name, and at hours little varying from those of the past. 
The Parisian dines at half-past six, remaining at table until eight. The Englishman 
later in all his hours, and more ponderous in all his habits, sits down to table about 
the time the Frenchman gets up; quitting it between nine and ton. The Italian pays 
a tribute to his climate, and has his early dinner and light supper, both usually alone, 
the habits of the country carrying him to the opera and the conversazione for social 
communion. But what is the American ? A jumble of the same senseless contradic- 
tions in his social habits, as he is fast getting to be iu his political creeds and political 
practices; being that is in transitu, pressed by circumstances on the one side, and by 
the habit of imitation on the other ; unwilling, almost unable, to think and act for 
himself. The only American who is temporarily independent in such things, Is the 
unfledged provincial, fresh from his village conceit and village practices, who, until, 
corrected by communion with the world, fancies the south-east corner of the north- 
west parish, in the town of Hebron, in the county of Jericho, and the stato of Con- 
necticut, to be the only portion of this globe that is perfection. If he should happen 
to keep a scliool, or conduct a newspaper, the community becomes in a small degree 
the participant of his rare advantages and vast experience! — Editok. 



'10 SATANSTOE. 

quest of Dirck, in order that we miglit enjoy a stroll along the 
wharves before it was time to repair to the common, where the 
fun was to be seen. Accordingly I got out of the house betimes, 
though it was an hour later than I had intended ; for I heard 
the rattling of cups in the little parlor, the sign that the table 
was undergoing the usual process of an-angement for break- 
fast. It then occurred to me that most, if not all of the 
servants, seven in number, would be permitted to enjoy the 
holiday ; and that it might be well if I took all my meals, that 
day, in the fields. Running back to the room, I communicated 
this intention to Juno, the girl I found doing Pompey's work, 
and left the house on a jump. There was no great occasion for 
starv^ing, I thought, in a town as large and as full of eatables as 
New York ; and the result fully justified this reasonable opinion. 

Just as I got into Hanover Square, I saw a gray-headed 
negro, who was for turning a penny before he engaged in the 
amusements of ilie day, carrying two pails that were scoured to 
the neatness of Dutch fastidiousness, and which were suspended 
from the yoke he had across his neck and shoulders. He cried 
"White wine — white wine !" in a clear sonorous voice; and I 
was at his side in a moment. White wine was, and is still, my 
delight of a morning; and I bought a delicious draught of the 
purest and best of a Communipaw vintage, eating a cake at the 
same time. Thus refreshed, I proceeded into the square, the 
beauty of which had struck my fancy as I walked through it 
the previous evening. To my surprise, whom should I find in 
the very centre of Queen street, gaping about him with a most 
indomitable Connecticut air, but Jason Newcome ! A brief 
explanation let me into the secret of his presence. His boys 
had all gone home to enjoy the Pinkster holiday, with the black 
servants of their respective families ; and Jason had seized the 
opportunity to pay his first visit to the great capital of the 
colony. He was on his travels, like myself. 

"And what has brought you down here !" I demanded, the 
pedagogue having already informed me that he had put up at a 
tavern in the suburbs, v.here horse-keeping and lodgings wera 



SATAN STOE. 71 

" reasonable." " The Pinkster fields arc up near the Lead of 
Broadway, on tlie common." 

"So I hear," answered Jason; "but I want to see a ship 
and all the sights this way, in the first place. It will be time 
enough for Pinkster, two or three hours hence, if a Christian 
ought even to look at such vanities. Can you tell me where I 
am to find Hanover Square, Corny ?" 

"You are in it now, Mr. Newcorae ; and to my fancy, a very 
noble area it is!" 

" This Hanover Square !" repeated Jason. " Wliy, its shape 
is not that of a square at all ; it is nearer a triangleJ''' 

" What of that, sir ? By a square in a town, one does not 
necessarily understand an area with fom- equal sides and as many 
right angles, but an open space that is left for air and beauty. 
There are air and beauty enough to satisfy any reasonable man. 
A square may be a parallelogram, or a triangle, or any other 
shape one pleases." 

" This, then, is Hanover Square ! — a New York square, or a 
Nassau Hall square, Corny ; but not a Yale College square, take 
my word for it. It is so small, moreover !" 

" Small ! — the width of the street at the widest end must be 
near a hundred feet ; I grant you it is not half that at the other 
end, but that is owing to the proximity of the houses." 

"Ay, it is all owing to the proximity of the houses, as you 
call it. Now, according to my notion, Hanover Square, of 
which a body hears so much talk in the country, ought to have 
had fifty or sixty acres in it, and statues of the whole house of 
Brunswick, besides. Why is that nest of houses left in the 
middle of your square ?" 

"It is not, sir. The square ceases when it reaches them. 
They are too valuable to be torn down, although there has 
been some talk of it. My uncle Legge told me, last evening, 
that those houses have been valued as high as twelve thousand 
dollars ; and some persons put them as high as six thousand 
pounds." 

This reconciled Jason to the houses ; for he never failed to 



72 SATANSTOE. 

defer to money, come in what shape it would. It was the oiily 
source of human distinction that he could clearly comprehend, 
though he had some faint impressions touching the dignity of 
the crown, and the respect due to its representatives. 

" Corny," said Jason, in an under tone, and taking me by 
the arm to lead me aside, though no one was near, like a man 
who has a great secret to ask, or to communicate, "what was 
that I saw you taking for your bitters, a little while ago ?" 

" Bitters ! I do not understand you, Jason. Nothing bitter 
have I tasted to-day ; nor can I say I have any great wish to put 
any thing bitter into my mouth." 

" Why, the draught you got from the nigger who is now 
coming back across the square, as you call it, and which you 
seemed to enj'y particularly. I am dry, myself, and should 
wonderfully like a drink." 

" Oh ! that fellow sells ' white wine,' and you will find it de- 
licious. If you want your ' bitters,' as you call them, you can- 
not do better than stop him, and give him a penny." 

"Will he let it go so desperate cheap as that?" demanded 
Jason, his eyes twinkling with a sort of "bitters" expecta- 
tion. 

" That is the stated price. Stop him boldly ; there is no 
occasion for all this Connecticut modesty. Here, uncle, this 
gentleman v/ishes a cup of your white wine." 

Jason turned away in alarm, to see who was looking on ; and 
when the cup was put into his hand, he shut his eyes, deter- 
mined to gulp its contents at a swallow, in the most ajiproved 
" bitters" style. About half the liquor went down his throat, 
the rest being squirted back in a small white stream. 

"Buttermilk, by Jingo!" exclaimed the disappointed peda- 
gogue, who expected some delicious combination of spices with 
rum. St. Jingo was the only saint, and a " darnation" or 
" dam you," were the only oaths his Puritan education ever 
permitted him to use. 



a A T A N S T O E . 78 



CHAPTER V. 

" riere's your fine clams I 
As white as snow ! 
On Eockaway these clams Jo grow." 

New Toek Cries. 

It was some time before Jason's offended dignity and disap- 
pointment would permit liim to smile at the mistake ; and we 
had walked some distance toward Old Slip, where I was to 
meet Dirck, before the pedagogue even opened his lips. Then, 
the only allusion he made to the white wine, was to call it " a 
plaguy Dutch cheat ;" for Jason had implicitly relied on having 
that peculiar beverage of his caste, known as "bitters." What 
he meant by a Dutch cheat, I do not know ; unless he thought 
the buttermilk was particularly Dutch, and this buttermilk an 
imposition. 

Dirck was waiting for me at the Old Slip ; and, on inquiry, 
I found he had enjoyed his draught of white wine as well as 
myself, and was ready for immediate service. We proceeded 
along the wharves in a body, admiring the different vessels that 
lined them. About nine o'clock, all three of us passed up 
Wall street, on the stoops of which, no small portion of its 
tenants were already seated, enjoying the sight of the negroes, 
as, with happy "shining" faces they left the different dwel- 
lings, to hasten to the Pinkster field. Our passage through the 
street attracted a good deal of attention ; for, being all three 
strangers, it was not to be supposed we could be thus seen in a 
body, without exciting a remark. Such a thing could hardly 
have been expected in London itself. 

After showing Jason the City Hall, Trinity Church, and the 
City Tavern, we went out of town, taking the direction of a 
4 



74 SATANSTOr. 

large common tiiat the king's ofBcers bad long used for a parade 
ground, and which has since been called the Park, though it 
would be difficult to say why, since it is barely a paddock in 
size, and certainly has never been used to keep any animals 
wilder than the boys of the town. A park, I suppose, it will 
one day become, though it has little at present that comports 
with my ideas of such a thing. On this common, then, was 
the Pinkster ground, which was now quite full of people, as well 
as of animation. 

There was nothing new in a Pinkster frolic, either to Dirck, 
or to myself; though Jason gazed at the whole procedure with 
wonder. lie was born within seventy miles of tliat very spot, 
but had not the smallest notion before, of such a holiday as 
Pinkster. There are few blacks in Connecticut, I believe ; and 
those that are there, are so ground down in the Puritan mil), 
that they are neither fish, flesh, nor red-herring, as we say of a 
nondescript. No man ever heard of a festival in New England 
that had not some immediate connection with the saints, or 
with p6litics. 

Jason was at first confounded with the noises, dances, music, 
and games that were going on. By this time, nine-tenths of 
the blacks of the city, and of the whole country within thirty 
or forty miles, indeed, were collected in thousands in those 
fields, beating banjoes, singing African songs, drinking, and 
worst of all, laughing in a way that seemed to set their very 
hearts rattling within their ribs. Every thing wore the aspect 
of good-humor, though it was good-humor in its broadest and 
coarsest forms. Every sort of common game was in requisition, 
while drinking was far from being neglected. Still, not a man 
was drunk. A drunken negro, indeed, is by no means a com- 
mon thing. The features that distinguish a Pinkster frolic from 
the usual scenes at fairs, and other merry-makings, however, 
were of African origin. It is true, there are not now, nor were 
there then, many blacks among us of African birth ; but the 
traditions and usages of their original country were so far pre- 
served as to produce a marked difference between this festival, 



SATANSTOE. 75 

and one of European origin. Among other tilings, some were 
making music, by beating on skins drawn over the ends of hol- 
low logs, while others were dancing to it, in a manner to show 
that they felt infinite delight. This, in particular, was said to 
be a usage of their African progenitors. 

Hundreds of whites were walking thi'ough the fields, amused 
spectators. Among these last were a great many children of 
the better class, who had come to look at the enjoyment of 
those who attended them, in their own ordinary amusements. 
Many a sable nurse did I see that day, chaperoning her young 
master, or young mistress, or both together, through the various 
groups ; demanding of all, and receiving from all, the respect 
that one of these classes was accustomed to pay to the other. 

A great many young ladies between the ages of fifteen and 
twenty were also in the field, either escorted by male compan- 
ions, or, what was equally as certain of producing deference, 
under the care of old female nurses, who belonged to the race 
that kept the festival. We had been in the field ourselves two 
hours, and even Jason was beginning to condescend to be 
amused, when, unconsciously, I got separated from my com- 
panions, and was wandering through the groups by myself, as 
I came on a party of young girls, who were under the care of 
two or three wrinkled and gray-headed negresses, so respectably 
attired, as to show at once they were confidential servants in 
some of the better families. As for the young ladies themselves, 
most were still of the as;e of school-o;irls : though there were 
some of that equivocal age, when the bud is just breaking into 
the opening flower, and one or two that were even a little older; 
young women in forms and deportment, though scarcely so in 
years. One of a party of two of the last, appeared to me to 
possess all the graces of young womanhood, rendered radiant 
by the ingenuous laugh, the light-hearted playfulness, and the 
virgin innocence of sweet seventeen. She was simply, but very 
prettily dressed, and every thing about her attire, air, carnage, 
and manner, denoted a young lady of the better class, who was 
just old enough to feel all the proprieties of her situation, while 



76 SATANSTOE. 

she was still sufficiently youthful to enjoy all the fun. As she 
came near me, it seemed as if I knew her ; hut it was not until 
I heard her sweet, mirthful voice, that I recollected the pretty 
little thing in whose behalf I had taken a round with the 
butcher's boy, on the Bowery road, near six years before. As 
her party came quite near the spot where I stood, what was 
only conjecture at first, was reduced to a certainty. 

In the surprise of the moment, happening to catch the eye 
of the young creature, I was emboldened to make her a low 
bow. At first she smiled, like ' one who fancies she recognizes 
an acquaintance ; then her face became scarlet, and she return- 
ed my bow with a very lady-like, but, at the same time, a very 
distant curtsey; upon which, bending her blue eyes to the 
ground, she turned away, seemingly to speak to her com- 
panion. After this, I could not advance to speak, though I 
was strongly in hopes the old black nurse who was with her 
would recognize me, for she had manifested much concern 
about me on the occasion of the quarrel with the young butcher. 
This did not occur ; and old Katrinke, as I heard the negress 
called, jabbered away, explaining the meaning of the diflferent 
ceremonies of her race, to a cluster of very interested listeners, 
without paying any attention to me. The tongues of the pretty 
little things went, as girls' tongues will go, though my un- 
known fair one maintained all the reserve and quiet of manner 
that comported with her young womanhood, and apparent con- 
dition of life. 

"Dere, Miss Anneke!" exclaimed Katrinke, suddenly; 
"dere come a gentleum dat will bring a pleasure, I know." 

^^ Anneke, ^^ I repeated, mentally, and "gentleman that will 
cause pleasure by his appearance." "Can it bo Dirck?" I 
thought. Sure enough, Dirck it proved to be, who advanced 
rapidly to the group, making a general salute, and finishing by 
shaking my beautiful young stranger's "hands, and addressing 
her by the name of " cousin Anneke." This, then, was Annie 
Mordaunt, as the young lady was commonly called in the Eng- 
lish circles, the only child and heiress of Herman Mordaunt, of 



8ATANST0E, 



V7 



Crown street and of Lilacsbusli. Well, Dirck has more taste 
than I had ever given him credit for? Just as this thought 
glanced through my mind, my figure caught my friend's eye, 
and, with a look of pride and exultation, he signed to me to 
draw nearer, though I had managed to get pretty near as it 
was, already. 

"Cousin Anneke," said Dirck, who never used circumlo- 
cution, when direct means were at all available, " this is Corny 
littlepage, of whom you have heard me speak so often, and for 
whom I ask one of your best curtsies and sweetest smiles." 

Miss Mordaunt was kind enough to comply Hterally, both 
curtsying and smiling, precisely as she had been desired to do, 
though I could see she was also slightly disposed to laugh. I 
was still making my bow, and mumbling some unintelligible 
compliment, when Katrinke gave a little exclamation, and using 
the fi'eedom of an old and confidential servant, she eagerly 
pulled the sleeve of her young mistress, and hurriedly whispered 
something in her ear. Anneke colored, turned quickly to- 
ward me, bent her eyes more boldly and steadily on my face 
• — and then it was that I fancied the sweetest smile which mor- 
tal had ever received, or that with which I had just before been 
received, was much surpassed. 

" Mr. Littlepage, I believe, is not a total stranger, cousin 
Dirck," she said. "Katrinke remembers him, as a young gen- 
tleman, who once did me an important service, and now I 
think I can trace the resemblance myself. I allude to the boy 
Avho insulted me on the Bowery road, Mr. Littlepage, and your 
handsome interference in my behalf." 

"Had there been twenty boys. Miss Mordaunt, an insult 
to you would have been resented by any man of ordinary spirit." 

I do not know that any youth, who was suddenly put to his 
wits to be polite, or sentimental, or feeling, could have done a 
great deal better than that! So Anneke thought too, I fancy, 
for her color increased, rendering her ravishingly lovely, and 
she looked surprisingly pleased. 

"Yes," put in Dirck, with energy — "let twenty, or a hun- 



78 SATANSTOE. 

dred try it if they please, Anneke, men or boys, aud they'll 
find those that will protect you." 

"You for one, of course, cousin Dirck," rejoined the charm- 
ing girl, holding out her hand toward my friend, with a frank- 
ness I could have dispensed with in her; "hut, you will re- 
member, Mr. Littlepage, or Master Littlepage, as he then was, 
was a stranger, and I had no such claim on Am, as I certainly 
have on you." 

" Well, Corny, it is odd you never said a word of this to nic! 
when I was showing him Lilacsbush, and talking of you and of 
your father, not a word did he say on the subject." 

"I did not then know it was Miss Mordaunt I had been so 
fortunate as to serve; but here is Mr. Newcome at your 
elbow, FoUock, and dying to be introduced, as he sees I have 
been." 

Anneke turned to smile and curtsey again to Jason, who 
made his.bow in a very schoolmaster sort of a fashion, while I 
could see that the circumstance I had not boasted of my ex- 
ploit gave it new importance in the sweet creature's eyes. As 
for Jason, he had no sooner got along with the introduction — 
the first, I fancy, he had ever gone regularly through — than, pro- 
fiting by some questions Miss Mordaunt was asking Dirck about 
his mother and the rest of the family, he came round to me, 
drew me aside by a jerk of the sleeve, and gave me to under- 
stand he had something for my private ear. 

"I did not know before that you had ever kept school, 
Corny," he half whispered, earnestly. 

"How do you know it now, Mr. Newcomc, since the thing 
never happened?" 

"How comes it, then, that this young woman called you 
Master Littlepage ?" 

"Bah! Jason, wait a year or two, and you will begin to get 
truer notions of us New Yorkers." 

" But I heard her with my own aax^— Master Littlepage ; as 
plain as Avords were ever called?" 

"Well, then. Miss Mordaunt must be right, aud, and I have 



SATANSTOE. '19 

forgotten the affair. I must once liave kept a woman's school, 
somewhere, in my younger days, hut forgotten it." 

" Now this is nothing (nawthin', as expressed) hut your des- 
perate York pride. Corny ; hut I think all the hetter of you for 
it. Why, as it could not have taken place after you went to 
college, you must have got the start of even me ! But, the 
Kev. Mr. Worden is enough to start a youth with a large 
capital, if he be so minded. I admit he does understand the 
dead languages. It is a pity he is so very dead in religion,? 
matters." 

"Well — well — I will tell you all about it another time; you 
perceive, now, that Miss Mordaunt wishes to move on, and 
does not like to quit us too abruptly. Let us follow." 

Jason complied, and for an hour or two we had the pleasure 
of accompanying the young ladies, as they strolled among the 
booths and different groups of that singular assemblj^ As has 
been said, most of the blacks had been born in the colony, but 
there were some native Africans among them. New York 
never had slaves on the system of the southern planters, or in 
gangs of hundreds, to labor in the fields under overseers, and 
who lived apart in cabins of their own; but, our system of 
slavery was strictly domestic, the negro almost invariably living 
under the same roof with the master, or, if his habitation was 
detached, as certainly sometimes happened, it was stUl near at 
liand, leaving both races as parts of a common family. In the 
country, the negroes never toiled in the field, but it was as 
ordinary husbandmen ; and, in the cases of those who labored 
on their own property, or as tenants of some extensive landlord, 
the black did his work at his master's side. Then all, or nearly 
all our household servants Avere, and still are, blacks, leaving 
that department of domestic economy almost exclusively in their 
hands, with the exception of those cases in which the white 
females busied themselves also in such occupations, united to 
the usual supervision of the mistresses. Among the Dutch, in 
particular, the treatment of the negro was of the kindest char- 
acter, a trusty field-slave often having quite as much to say on 



80 SATANSTOE. 

the subject of the tillage and the crops, as the man who owned 
both the land he worked and himself. 

A party of native Africans kept us for half an hour. The 
scene seemed to have revived their early associations, and they 
were carried away with their own representation of semi-savage 
sports. The American-born blacks gazed at this group with 
intense interest also, regarding them as so many ambassadors 
from the land of their ancestors, to enlighten them in usages 
and superstitious lore, that were more peculiarly suited to their 
race. The last even endeavored to imitate the acts of the first, 
and, though the attempt was often ludicrous, it never failed on 
the score of intention and gravity. Nothing was done in 
the way of caricature, but much in the way of respect and 
affection. 

Lest the habits of this generation should pass away and be 
forgotten, of which I see some evidence, I will mention a usage 
that was quite common among the Dutch, and which has passed 
iu some measure, into the English families that have formed 
connections with the children of Holland. Two of these inter- 
marriages liad so for brought the Littlepages within the pale, 
that the usage to which I allude was practised in my own case. 
The custom was this : when a child of the family reached the 
age of six, or eight, a young slave of the same age and sex, 
was given to him, or her, with some little formality, and from 
that moment the fortunes of the two were considered to be, 
within the limits of their respective pursuits and positions, as 
those of man and wife. It is true, divorces do occur, but it is 
only in cases of gross misconduct, and quite as often the mis- 
conduct is on the side of the master, as on that of the slave. 
A drunkard may get in debt, and be compelled to part with his 
blacks ; this one among the rest ; but this particular negro re- 
mains with him as long as any thing remains. Slaves that 
seriously misbehave, are usually sent to the island, where the 
toil on the sugar plantations proves a very sufficient punish- 
ment. 

The day I was six, a boy Avas given to me, in the manner 1 



SATAN STOE. 81 

Lave mentioned ; and lie remained not only my property, but 
my factotum, to this moment. It was Yaap, or Jacob, tbe 
negro to whom I have already had occasion to allude. Anneke 
Mordaunt, whose grandmother was of a Dutch family, it will 
be remembered, had with her there, in the Pinkster field, a 
negress of just her own age, who was called Ma?•^ ; not Mary, 
or Maria ; but the last, as it would be pronounced without tlie 
final a. This Mari was a buxom, glistening, smooth-faced, laugh- 
ing, red-lipped, pearl-toothed, black-eyed hussy, that seemed 
born for fun ; and who was often kept in order by her more 
sedate and well-mannered young mistress with a good deal of 
difficulty. My fellow was on the ground, somewhere, too ; for 
I had given him permission to come to town to keep Pinkster; 
and he was to leave Satanstoe, in a sloop, within an hour 
after I left it myself. The wind had been fair, and I made 
no question of his having arrived ; though, as yet, I had not 
seen him. 

I could have accompanied Anneke, and her party, all day, 
through that scene of unsophisticated mirth, and felt no want 
of interest. Her presence immediately produced an impres- 
sion ; even the native Africans moderating their manner, and 
lowering their yells, as it might be, the better to suit her more 
refined tastes. No one, in our set, was too dignified to laugh, 
but Jason. The pedagogue, it is true, often expressed his dis- 
gust at the amusements and antics of the negroes, declaring 
they were unbecoming human beings, and otherwise manifest- 
ing that disposition to hypercriticism, which is apt to distin- 
guish one who is only a tyro in his own case. 

Such was the state of things, when Mart came rushing up to 
her young mistress, with distended eyes and uplifted hands, ex- 
claiming, on a key that necessarily made us all sharers in the 
communication — 

" Oh ! Miss Anneke ! ^Vhat you t'ink. Miss Anneke ! Could 
you ever s'pose sich a t'ing. Miss Anneke !" 

" Tell me at once, Mari, what it is you have seen, or heard ; 
and leave off these silly exclamations ;" said the gentle mis- 



82 SATANSTOE. 

tress, witli a color that proved she was unused to her own girl'a 
manner. 

"Who could t'ink it, Miss Annelce ! Desc, here, werry nig- 
gers have sent all 'e way to deir own country, and have had a 
lion cotched for Pinkster !" 

This was news, indeed, if true. Not one of us all had ever 
seen a lion ; wild animals, then, being exceedingly scarce in the 
colonies, with the exception of those that were taken in our 
own woods. I had seen several of the small brown bears, and 
many a wolf, and one stuffed panther, in my time ; but never 
supposed it within the range of possibilities, that I could be 
brought so near a living lion. Inquiry showed, nevertheless, 
that Mari was right, with the exception of the animal's having 
been expressly caught for the occasion. It was the beast of a 
showman, who was also the proprietor of a very active and 
amusing monkey. The price of admission was a quarter of a 
dollar, for adult whites ; children and negroes going in for half 
price. These preliminaries understood, it was at once settled 
that all who could muster enough of money and courage, should 
go in a body, and gaze on the king of beasts. I say, of 
courage ; for it required a good deal for a female novice to go 
near a living lion. 

The lion was kept in a cage, of course, which was placed in 
a temporary building of boards, that had been erected for the 
Pinkster field. As wc drew near the door, I saw that the 
cheeks of several of the pretty young creatures who belonged 
to the party of Anneke, began to turn pale ; a sign of weak- 
ness that, singular as it may appear, very sensibly extended 
itself to most of their attendant negresses. Mari did not flinch, 
however; and, when it came to the trial, of that sex, she and 
her mistress were the only two Avho held out in the original res- 
olution of entering. Some time was thrown aAvay in endeavor- 
ing to persuade two or three of her older companions to go in 
with her ; but, finding it useless, with a faint smile, Jliss Mor- 
daunt calmly said — 

"Well, gentlemen, Mari and myself must compose the 



S A T A N S T E . 83 

female portion of the party. I have never seen a Hon, and 
would not, by any means, miss this opportunity. "We shall 
find my friends waiting for such portions of us as shall not be 
eaten, on our return." 

We were now near the door, where stood the man who re- 
ceived the money, and gave the tickets. It happened that 
Dirck had been stopped by a gentleman of his acquaintance, 
who had just left the building, and who was laughingly relating 
some incident that had occurred within. I stood on one 
side of Anneke, Jason on the other, while Mari was close in the 
rear. 

" A quarter for each gentleman and the lady," said the door- 
keeper, " and a shilling for the wench." 

On this hint, Jason, to my great surprise (for usually he was 
very backward on such occasions), drew out a purse, and emp- 
tying some silver into his hand, he said with a flourish — 

"Permit me. Miss — it is an honor I covet; a quarter for 
yourself, and a shilling for Mari." 

I saw Anneke color, and her eye turn hastily towards Dirck. 
Before I had time to say any thing, or to do any thing in fiict, 
she answered steadily — 

"Give yourself no trouble, Mr. Newcome; Mr. Littlepage 
will do me the favor to obtain tickets for me." 

Jason had the money in his fingers, and I passed him and 
bought the tickets, while he was protesting — 

" It gave him pleasure — he was proud of the occasion — an- 
other time her brother could do the same for his sisters and he 
had six," and other matters of the sort. 

I simply placed the tickets in Anneke's hand, who received 
them with an expression of thanks, and we all passed ; Dirck 
inquiring of his cousin, as he came up, if he should get her 
tickets. I mention this little incident as showing the tact of 
woman, and will relate all that pertains to it, before I proceed 
to other things. Anneke said nothing on the subject of her 
tickets until we had left the booth, when she approached me, 
and with that grace and simplicity which a well-bred woman 



84 SATANSTOE. 

knows liow to use on sucL an occasion, and quietly ob- 
served — 

" I am under obligations to you, Mr. Littlcpage, for baving 
paid for my tickets ; — they cost three shillings, I believe. 

I bowed, and had the pleasure of almost touching Miss Mor- 
daunt's beautiful little hand, as she gave me the money. At 
this instant, a jerk at my elbow came near causing me to drop 
the silver. It was Jason, who had taken this liberty, and who 
now led mo aside with an earnestness of manner it was not 
usual for him to exhibit. I saw by the portentous look of the 
pedagogue's countenance, and his swelling manner, that some- 
thing extraordinary was on his mind, and waited with some 
little curiosity to learn what it might be. 

"Why, what in human natur', Corny, do 3''ou mean?" he 
cried, almost angrily. " Did ever mortal man hear of a gentle- 
man's making a lady pay for a treat ! Do you know you have 
made Miss Anneke pay for a treat?" 

"A treat, Mr. Newcome !" 

** Yes, a treat, Mr. Corny Littlepage ! How often do you 
think young ladies will accompany you to shows, and l)alls, 
and other sights, if you make them pay P^ 

Then a laugh of derision added emphasis to Jason's words. 

" Pay I — could I presume to think Miss Mordaunt would 
suffer me to pay money for her, or for her servant?" 

*' You almost make me think you a nat'ral ! Young men 
ahvays pay for young women, and no questions asked. Did 
you not remark how smartly I offered to pay for this Miss, and 
how well she took it, until you stepped forward and cut me 
out; — I bore it, for it saved me three ninepences." 

" I observed how Miss Mordaunt shrunk from the familiarity 
of being called Miss, and how unwilling she was to let you buy 
the tickets ; and that I suspect was solely because she saw you 
had some notion of what you call a treat." 

I cannot enter into the philosophy of the thing; but certainly 
nothing is more vulgar in English, to address a young lady as 
Miss, without affixing a name, whereas I know it is the height 



SATANSTOE. 85 

of breeding to say Mademoiselle in French, and am told the 
Spaniards, Italians, and Germans use its synonyme in the same 
manner. I had been indignant at Jason's familiarity "when lie 
called Anneke — the pretty Anneke ! — Miss ; and felt glad of an 
occasion to let him understand how I felt on the subject. 

"What a child you be, a'ter all. Corny!" exclaimed the 
pedagogue, who was much too good-natured to take offence at 
a trifle. " You, a bachelor of arts ! But this matter must be 
set right, if it be only for the honor of my school. Folks" — 
Jason never blundered on the words 'one' or 'people' in this 
sense — " Folks may think that you have been in the school 
since it has been under my care, and I wouldn't for the world 
have it get abroad that a youth from my school had neglected 
to treat a lady under such circumstances." 

Conceiving it useless to remonstrate with me any further, 
Jason proceeded forthwith to Anneke, with whom he begged 
permission to say a word in private. So eager was my com- 
panion to wipe out the stain, and so surprised was the young 
lady, who gently declined moving more than a step, that the 
conference took place immediately under my observation, 
neither of the parties being aware that I necessarily heard or 
saw all that passed. 

" You must excuse Corny, Miss," Jason commenced, pro- 
ducing his purse again, and beginning to hunt anew for a quar- 
ter and a shilling; "he is quite young, and knows nawthin' 
worth speaking of, of the ways of mankind. Ah ! here is just 
the money — three ninepennies, or three York shillings. Here 
Miss, excuse Corny, and overlook it all ; when he is older, he 
will not make such blunders." 

"I am not certain that I understand you, sir!" exclaimed 
Anneke, who had shrunk back a little at the ' Miss,' and who 
now saw Jason hold out the silver, with a surprise she took no 
pains to conceal. 

"This is the price of the tickets — yes, that's all. Nawthin' 
els(% on honor. Corny, you remember, was so awful dumb as 
to lot you pay, just as if you had been a gentleman." 



86 SATANSTOE. 

Anneke now smiled, and, glancing at me at the same instant, 
a bright blusli suft'uscd her face, though the meaning of my eye, 
as I could easily see, strongly tempted her to laugh. 

" It is very well as it is, Mr. Newcome, though I feel much 
indebted to your liberal intentions," she said, turning to rejoin 
her friends; "it is customary in New York for ladies to pay, 
themselves, for every thing of this nature. When I go to Con^ 
necticut, I shall feel infinitely indebted to you for another sucli 
offer." 

Jason did not know Avhat to make of it ! lie long after in- 
sisted that the young lady was "huffed," as he called it, and 
that she had refused to take the money merely because she was 
thus offended. 

"There is a manner, you know. Corny," he said, " of doing 
even a genteel thing, and that is to do it genteelly. I much 
doubt if a genteel thing can be done ungenteelly. One thing 
I'm thankful for, and that is, that she don't know that you 
ever were at the * Seminarian Institute' in your life ;" such 
being the appellation Jason had given to that which Mr. Wor- 
den had simply called a 'boys' school.' To return to the 
booth. 

The lion had many visitors, and we had some difficulty in 
finding places. As a matter of course, Anneke was put in 
front, most of the men who were in the booth giving way to 
her with respectful attention. Unfortunately, the young lady 
wore an exceedingly pretty shawl, in which scarlet was a pre- 
dominant color ; and that which occurred has been attributed 
to this circumstance, though I am far from afiirming such to 
have been literally the case. Anneke, from the first, manifested 
no fear ; but the circle pressing on her from without, she got 
so near the cage that the beast thrust a paw through, and actu- 
ally got hold of the shawl, drawing the alarmed girl quite up 
to the bars. I was at Anneke' s side, and with a presence of 
mind that now surprises me, I succeeded in throwing the shawl 
from the precious creature's shoulders, and of fairly lifting her 
from the ground and scttinfr her down ap-ain at a safe distance 



S A T A N S T E . b7 

from tlie beast. All tliis passed so soon that half the persons 
present were unconscious of what had occurred until it was all 
over ; and what astonishes me most is, that I do not retain the 
least recollection of the pleasure I ought to have felt while my 
arm encircled Anneke Mordaunt's slender waist, and while she 
was altogether supported by me. The keeper interfered imme- 
diately, and the lion relinquished the shawl, looking like a dis- 
appointed beast when he found it did not contain its beautiful 
owner. 

Anneke was rescued before she had time fully to comprehend 
the danger she had been in. Even Dirck could not advance to 
her aid, though he saw and comprehended the imminent risk 
ran by the being he loved best in the world ; but Dirck was 
always so §low ! I must do Jason the credit to say that he 
behaved well, though so situated as to be of no real use. He 
rushed forward to assist Anneke, and remained to draw away 
the shawl, as soon as the keeper had succeeded in making the 
lion relinquish his hold. But all this passed so rapidly, as to 
give little opportunity for noting incidents. 

Anneke was certainly well frightened by the adventure with 
the lion, as was apparent by her changing color, and a few tears 
that succeeded. StUl, a glass of water, and a minute or two, 
seated in a chair, were sufficient to restore her self-composure, 
and she remained with us, for half an hour, examining and ad- 
miring her terrible assailant. 

And, here, let me add, for the benefit of those who have 
never had an opportunity of seeing the king of beasts, that he 
is a sight well worthy to behold ? I have never viewed an ele- 
phant, which travelled gentlemen tell me is a still more extraor- 
dinary animal, though I find it difficult to imagine any thing 
finer, in its way, than the lion which came so near injuring 
"sweet Anne Mordaunt." I question if any of us were aware 
of the full extent of the danger she ran, until we began to re- 
flect on it coolly, after time and leisure were afforded. As soon 
as the commotion naturally produced at first, had subsided, 
the incident seemed forgotten, and we left the booth, after a 



S A T A N S T E , 



long visit, expatiating on the animal and its cliaracter, appa- 
rently in forgetfulness of that which, by one blow of his power- 
ful paw, the lion might have rendered fatal to one of the very 
sweetest and happiest innocents of the whole province, but for 
the timely and merciful interposition of a kind Providence. 

After the little affair of the tickets, T walked on with Anneke, 
who declared her intention of quitting the field, her escape 
beginning to affect her spirits, and she was afraid that some 
particularly kind friend might carry an exaggerated account 
of what had happened to her father. Dirck offered to accom- 
pany her home, for Mr. Mordaunt kept no carriage ; or, at least, 
nothing that was habitually used as a town equipage. We had 
all gone as far as the verge of the Common with Anneke, when 
the sweet girl stopped, looked at me earnestly, an<i, while her 
color changed, and tears rose to her eyes, she said : 

" Mr. Littlepage, I am just getting to be fully conscious of 
what I owe to you. The thing passed so suddenly, and I was 
so much alarmed, that I did not know how to express myself 
at the time, nor am I certain that I do now. Believe me, not- 
withstanding, that I never can forget this morning, and I beg 
of you, if you have a sister, to carry to her the proffered friend- 
ship of Anneke Mordaunt, and tell her that her own prayers in 
behalf of her brother will not be more sincere than mine." 

Before I could recollect myself, so as to make a suitable an- 
swer, Anneke had curtsied and walked away, with her hand- 
kerchief to her eves. 







8ATANST0E. 



80 



CHAPTER VI. 

"Nay, be brief; 

I see into thy end, and am almost 

A man already." 

Ctmbeline. 

As DiRCK accompanied Miss Mordaunt to her father's house 
in Crowne street,* I took an occasion to give Jason the sUp, 
being in no humor to listen to his lectures on the proprieties of 
life, and left the Pinkster field as fast as I could. Notwith- 
standing the size and importance of New York, a holiday like 
this could not fail to draw great crowds of persons to witness 
the sports. In 1757, James de Lancey was at the head of the 
government of the province, as indeed he had been, in effect, 
for much of his life ; and I remember to have met his chariot, 
carrying the younger children of the family to the field, on my 
way into the town. As the day advanced, carriages of one 
sort and another made their appearance in Broadway, princi- 
pally conveying the children of their different owners. All 
these belonged to people of the first mark ; and I saw the ship 
that denotes the arms of Livingston, the lance of the Do 
Lanceys, the burning castle of the Morrises, and other armorial 
bearings that were well known in the province. Carriages, 
certainly, were not as common in 1757 as they have since be- 
come ; but most of our distinguished people rode in their 
coaches, chariots, or phaetons, or conveyances of some sort or 
ether, when there was occasion to go so far out of town as the 
Common, which is the site of the present " Park." The roads 
on the island of Manhattan were very pretty and picturesque, 
winding among rocks and through valleys, being lined with 

♦ Now Liberty street. 



90 SATANSTOB. 

groves and copses in a way to render all tlie drives rural and 
retired. Here and there, one came to a country-liouse, the 
residence of some person of importance, -which, by its comfort 
and snugness, gave all the indications of wealth and of a prudent 
taste. Mr. Speaker NicoU* had occupied a dwelling of thl" 
sort for a long series of years, that was about a league from 
town, and which is still standing, as I pass it constantly travel- 
ling between Satanstoc and York. I never saw the patentee 
myself, as he died long before my birth ; but his house near 
town still stands, as I have said, a memorial of past ages ! 

The whole town seemed alive, and every body had a desire 
to get a glance at the sports of the Pinkster field ; though the 
more dignified and cultivated had self-denial enough to keep 
aloof, since it would hardly have comported with their years 
and stations to be seen in such a place. The war had brought 
many regiments into the province, however, and I met at least 
twenty young officers, stroHing out to the scene of amusement, 
as I Avalked into town. I will confess I gazed at these youths 
with admiration, and not entirely without envy, as they passed 
me in pairs, laughing and diverting themselves with the gro- 

* Tho person meant hero was William Nicoll, Esquire, Patentee of Islip, a large 
estate on Long Island, that is still in the family, under a patent granted in 1G83. This 
gentleman -was a son of Mr. Secretary NicoU, who is supposed to have been a relative 
of Colonel Nicoll, the first English governor. Mr. Speaker Nicoll, as the son was 
called, in consequence of having filled that ofiice for nearly a generation, was the 
direct ancestor of the Nicolls of Islip and Shelter Island, as well as of a branch long 
settled at Stratford, Connecticut The house alluded to by Mr. Littlepage, as a relic 
of antiquity in his day — American antiquity, be it remembered — was standing a few 
years since, if it be not still standing, at the point of junction between the Old Boston 
Eoad and-the New Koad, and nearly opposite to the termination of the long avenue 
that led to Eosehill, originally a seat of the Wattses. The house stood a short distance 
above the present Union Square, and not far from that of the present Gramercy. It 
was, or is, a brick house of one story, with a small court-yard in front ; the House of 
Eefuge being at a little distance on its right. If still standing, it must now be one of 
the oldest buildings of any sort, in a town of 400,000 souls! As Mr. Speaker Nicoll 
resigned the chair in 171S, this house must be at least a hundred and thirtj' or forty 
years old ; and it may be questioned if a dozen as old, public or private, can be found 
on the whole island. 

As the regular family residence of the Nicolls was in Suffolk, or on their estates, 
it is probable that the abode mentioned was, in a measure, owing to .an intermarri.igo 
with the Wattses, as much as to the necessity of the Speaker's passing so much time at 
Ihc seat of government. — Editoe. 



SATANSTOE. 91 

tcsquc groups of blacks that were occasionally met, coming in 
from their sports. These young men I knew had enjoyed the 
advantages of being educated at home, some of them, quite 
likely, in the universities, and all of them amid the high civili- 
zation and taste of England. I say all of them, too hastily ; as 
there were young men of the colonies among them, who prob- 
ably had not enjoyed these advantages. The easy air, self-pos- 
session, and quiet, what shall I call it ? — insolence would be too 
strong a word, and a term that I, the son and grandson of old 
king's officers, would not like to aj)ply, and yet it comes nearest 
to what I mean as applicable to the covert manner of these 
young men — but, whatever it was, that peculiar air of metro- 
poUtan superiority over provincial ignorance and provincial 
dependence, which certainly distinguished all the younger men 
of this class, had an effect on me, I find it difficult to describe. 
I was a loyal subject, loved the king — most particularly since 
he was so identified with the Protestant succession — loved all 
of the blood-royal, and wished for nothing more than the honor 
and lustre of the English crown. One thus disposed could not 
but feel amicably toward the king's officers ; yet, I will confess, 
there were moments when this air of ill-concealed superiority, 
this manner that so much resembled that of the master toward 
the servant, the superior to the dependent, the patron to the 
client, gave me deep offence, and feelings so bitter, that I was 
obliged to struggle hard to suppress them. But this is antici- 
pating, and is interrupting the course of my narrative. I am 
inclined to think there must always be a good deal of this feel- 
ing, where the relation of principal and dependent exists, as 
between distinct territories. 

I was a good deal excited, and a little fatigued with the walk 
and the incidents of the morning, and determined to proceed 
at once to Duke street, and share the cold dinner of my aunt ; 
for few private families in York, that depended on regular cooks 
for their food, had any thing served wann on their tables, for 
that and the two succeeding days. Ilere and there a white 
Bubstitute was found, it is true, and we had the benefit of such 



92 SATANSTOE. 

an assistant at half-past one. It was tlie English servant of a 
Colonel Mosely, an officer of the army, who was intimate at 
my uncle's, and who had had the civility to offer a man for this 
occasion. I afterward ascertained, that many officers mani- 
fested the same kind spirit toward various other families in 
which they visited on terms of friendship. 

Marriages between young English officers and our pretty, 
delicate York belles, were of frequent occurrence, and I had felt 
a twinge or two, on the subject of Anneke, that morning, as I 
passed the youths of the 55th, 60th, or Loyal Americans, l7th, 
and other regiments that were then in the province. 

My aunt was descending from the drawing-room, in dinner 
dress — for that no lady ever neglects, even though she dines on 
a cold dumpling. As I opened the street-door, Mrs. Legge was 
not coming down alone to take her seat at table, but, having 
some extra duty to perform in consequence of the absence of 
most of her household, she was engaged in that service. See- 
ing me, however, she stopped on the landing of the stairs, and 
beckoned me to approach. 

"Corny," she said, "what have you been doing, my child, 
to have drawn this honor upon you?" 

" Honor ! I am ignorant of having even received any. What 
can you mean, my dear aunt ?" 

"Here is Herman Mordaunt waiting to see you, in the draw- 
ing-room. He asked particularly for you ; — wishes to see you 
— expresses his regrets that you are not in, and talks only of 
you /" 

" In which case, I ought to hasten up stairs in order to re- 
ceive him, as soon as possible. I will tell you all about it at 
dinner, aunt; excuse me now." 

Away I went with a beating heart, to receive a visit from 
Anneke' s father. I can scarcely give a reason why this gentle- 
man was usually called, when he was spoken of, and sometimes 
when he was spoken to, Herman Mordaunt ; unless, indeed, it 
were, that being in part of Dutch extraction, the name which 
<lenoted the circumstance (Hermanus — pronounced by the llol- 



SATANSTOE. 93 

landers, IIcr;?iaanus) was used by a portion of tlic population 
in token of the fact, and adopted by others in pure compliance. 
But Herman Mordauut Avas he usually styled ; and this, too, 
in the way of respect, and not as coarse-minded persons affect 
to speak of their superiors, or in a way to boast of their own 
familiarity. I should have thought it an honor, at my time of 
life, to receive a visit from Herman Mordaunt ; but my heart 
fairly beat, as I have said, as I went hastily up stairs, to meet 
Anneke's father. 

My uncle was not in, and I found my visitor waiting for me, 
alone, in the drawing-room. Aware of the state of the family, 
and of all families, indeed, during Pinkster, he had insisted on 
my aunt's quitting him, while he looked over some new books 
that had recently been received from home ; among which was 
a new and very handsome edition of the Spectator, a work that 
enjoys a just celebrity throughout the colonies. 

Mr. Mordaunt advanced to receive me with studied polite- 
ness, yet a warmth that could not well be counterfeited, the 
instant I approached. Nevertheless, his manner was easy and 
natural ; and to me he appeared to be the highest-bred man I 
had ever seen. 

" I am thankful that the debt of gratitude I owe you, my 
young friend," he said, at once, and without preface of any 
sort, unless that of manner be so received, "is due to the son 
of a gentleman I so much esteem as Evans Littlepage. A 
loyal subject, an honest man, and a well-connected and well- 
descended gentleman, like him, may well be the parent of a 
brave youth, who does not hesitate to face even lions, in defence 
of the weaker sex." 

*' I cannot affect to misunderstand you, sir," I answered ; 
" and I sincerely congi-atulate you that matters are no worse ; 
though you greatly overrate the danger. I doubt if even a 
lion would have the heart to hurt Miss Mordaunt, were she in 
his power." 

I think this was a very pretty speech, for a youth of twenty ; 
and I confess I look back upon it, even now, with complacency. 



94 SATANSTOE. 

If I occasionally betray weakness of this character, I beg the 
reader to recollect that I am acting in the part of an honest 
historian, and that it is my aim to conceal nothing that ought 
to be known. 

Herman Mordaunt did not resume his seat, on account of 
the lateness of the hour (half-past one) ; but he made me pro- 
fessions of friendship, and named Friday, the first moment 
when he could command the services of his domestics, when 
I should dine with him. The army had introduced later hours 
than was usual ; and this invitation was given for three o'clock ; 
it being said, at the time, as I well remember, that persons of 
fashion in London sat down to table even later than this. 
After remaining with me five minutes, Herman Mordaunt took 
his leave. Of course, I accompanied him to the door, where 
we parted with many bows. 

At dinner, I told my uncle and aunt all that had occurred, 
and was glad to hear them both speak favorably of my new 
acquaintances. 

" Herman Mordaunt might be a much more considerable 
man than he is," obsen^ed my uncle, "were he disposed to 
enter into public life. He has talents, a good education, a very 
handsome estate, and is well-connected in the colony, certainly ; 
some say at home, also." 

"And Anneke is a sweet young thing," added ray auiit; 
" and, since Corny was to assist any young lady, I am heartily 
glad it was Anneke. She is an excellent creature, and her 
mother was one of our most intimate friends, as she was of my 
sister Littlepage, too. You must go and inquire after her health 
this evening. Corny. Such an attention is due, after what has 
passed all round." 

Did I wish to comply with this advice ? Out of all question ; 
and yet I was too young, and too little at my ease, to under- 
take this ceremony, without many misgivings. Luckily, Dirck 
came in, in the evening ; and my aunt repeating her opinion 
before my friend, he at once declared it was altogether proper, 
and that he thought Anneke would have a right to expect it. 



SATANSTOE, 95 

As he offered to be my companion, Ave were soon on our way 
to Crowne street, in wliich Mr. Mordaunt owned and inhabited a 
very excellent house. We were admitted by Mr. Mordaunt 
himself, not one of his blacks having yet returned from the 
Pinkster field. 

Dirck appeared to be on the best terms, not only with Her- 
man Mordaunt, but with his charming daughter. I had ob- 
served that the latter always called him " cousin Dirck," and I 
hardly knew whether to interpret this as a sign of particular or 
of family regard. That Dirck was fonder of Anneke Mordaunt 
than of any other human being, I could easily see, and I con- 
fess that the discovery already began to cause uneasiness. I 
loved Dirck, and wished he loved any one else but the very 
being I feared he did. 

Herman Mordaunt showed me the way, up the noble, wide, 
mahogany-garnished staircase of his dwelling, and ushered us 
into a very handsome, though not very large, but well-lighted 
drawing-room. There sat Anneke, his daughter, in the love- 
liness of her maiden charms, a little more dressed than usual, 
perhaps, for she had three or four young and lovely girls with 
her, and five or six young men ; among whom were no less than 
three scarlet coats. 

I shall not attempt to conceal my weakness. Only twenty, 
inexperienced and unaccustomed to town society, I felt awk- 
ward and unpleasantly the instant I entered the room ; nor did 
the feeling subside during the first half-hour. Anneke came 
forward, one or two step?, to meet me ; and I could see she 
was almost as much confused as I was myself. She blushed, 
as she thanked me for the service I had rendered, and expressed 
her satisfaction that her father had been fortunate enough to 
ficd me at home, and had had an opportunity of saying a little 
of what he felt, on the occasion. She then invited me to be 
seated, naming me to the company, and telling me who two 
or three of the young ladies were. From these last I received 
sundry approving smiles ; which I took as so many thanks for 
serving their friend; while I could not help seeing that I was 



90 SATANSTOE. 

an object of examination to most of the men present. The tliree 
officers, in particular, looked at me the most intently, and the 
longest. 

"I trust, your little accident, wMcli could have been of no 
great moment, in itself, since you escaped so well, did not have 
the effect to prevent you from enjoying the rare fun of this 
Pinkster affair?" said one of the scarlet coats, as soon as the 
movement caused by my reception had subsided. 

"You call it a "little accident," Mr. Bulstrode," returned 
Anneke, with a reproachful shake of her pretty head, "but, I 
can assure you, it is not a trifle, to a young lady, to find herself 
in the paws of a lion." 

"Serious accident, then; since I sec you are resolved to 
consider yourself a victim;" rejoined the other; "but, not 
serious enough, I trust, to deprive you of the fun?" 

" Pinkster fields, and Pinkster frolic, are no novelties to us, 
sir, as they occur every season ; and I am just old enough 
not to have missed one of them all, for the last twelve 
years." 

"We heard you had been out," put in another red-coat, 
whom I had heard called Billings, " accompanied by a little 
army, of what Bulstrode called the light infantry." 

Here three or four of the other young ladies joined in the 
discourse, at once, protesting against Mr. Bulstrode's placing 
their younger sisters in the army, in so cavalier a manner ; an 
accusation that Mr. Bulstrode endeavored to parry, by declaring 
his hopes of having them all, not only in the army, but in his 
own regiment, one day or other. At this, there was a certain 
amount of mirth, and various protestations of an unwUlingnes? 
to enlist ; in which, I was glad to see, that neither Anneke, nor 
her most intimate friend, Mary Wallace, saw fit to join. I 
liked their reserve of manner, far better than the girlish trifling 
of their companions ; and I could see that all the men respect- 
ed them the more for it. There was a good deal of general 
and disjointed conversation that succeeded ; which I shall not 
pretend to follow or relate, but confine myself to such observa- 



8ATANST0E. 97 

tions as had a bwu-lng on matters that were connected with 
myself. 

As none of the young soldiers were addressed by their mili- 
tary titles, such things never occurring in the better circles, as 
I now discovered, and, least of all, in those connected with the 
army, I was not able, at the time, to ascertain the rank of the 
three red-coats ; though I afterward ascertained, that the 
youngest was an ensign, of the name of Harris ; a mere boy, 
and the younger son of a member of Parliament. The next 
oldest, Billings, was a captain, and was said to be a natural son 
of a nobleman ; while Bulstrode was actually the oldest son of 
a baronet, of three or four thousand a year, and had already 
bought his way up as high as a majority, though only four-and- 
twenty. This last was a handsome fellow, too ; nor had I been 
an hour in his company, before I saw, plainly enough, that he 
was a strong admirer of Anneke Mordaunt. The other two 
evidently admired themselves too much, to have any very 
lively feelings on the subject of other persons. As for Dirck, 
younger than myself, and difBdent, as well as slow by nature, 
he kept himself altogether in the background, conversing, most 
of the time, with Herman Mordaunt, on the subject of fann- 
ing. 

We had been together an hour, and I had acquired sufficient 
ease to change my seat, and to look at a picture or two, which 
adorned the walls, and which were said to be originals from 
the old world ; for, to own the truth, the art of painting has 
not made much progress in the colonies. We have painters, it 
is true, and one or two are said to be men of rare merit, the 
ladies being very fond of sitting to them for their portraits ; but 
these are exceptions. At a future day, when critics shall have 
immortalized the names of a Smybert, and a Watson, and a 
Blackburn, the people of these provinces will become aware of 
the talents they once possessed among them ; and the grand- 
children of those who neglected these men of genius, in their 
day — ay, their descendants to the latest generations — will 
revenge the wrongs of merit and talent, to the end of civilized 



Of? aATAKSTOE. 

time. It Is a fulling of colonies to be diflulcnt of Uielr own 
opiiyons ; but I have heard gentlemen wlio were educated at 
liome, and wlio possessed cnltivated and refined tastes, affirm 
tbat tbe painters of Europe, when visiting this hemisphere, have 
retained all their excellence ; and have painted as freely and 
as well, under an American, as under a European sun. As for 
a sister art, the Thespian muse had actually made her appear- 
ance among us, five years before the time of my visit to town 
in 1757, or in 1752 ; a theatre having actually been built and 
opened in Nassau street in 1753, with a company under the 
care of the celebrated Hallam, and his family. This theatre I 
had been dying to visit, while it stood, for as yet I had never 
witnessed a theatrical performance; but my mother's injunc- 
tions prevented me from entering it while at college. " When 
you are old enough. Corny," she used to say, "you shall have 
my permission to go as often as is proper ; but you are now of 
an age when Shakspeare and Rowe might unsettle your Latin 
and Greek." My task of obedience had not been very difficult, 
inasmuch as the building in Nassau street, the second regular 
theatre ever erected in British America, was taken down, and a 
church erected in its place.* The comedians went to the 
islands, and had not reappeared on the continent down to the 
period of which I am now writing ; nor did their return occur 
until the following year. That they were expected, however, 
and that a new house had been built for them, in another part 
of the town, I was aware, though month after month passed 
away, and the much-expected company did not appear. I had 
understood, however, that the large military force collecting in 
the colony, would be likely to bring them back soon ; and the 
conversation soon took a turn, that proved how much interest 
the young, the gay, and the fair, felt in the result. I was still 
looking at a picture, when Mr. Bulstrode approached me, and 
entered into conversation. It will be remembered, that this 
gentleman was four years my senior ; that he had been at one 

* The church is now (1845) being converto'l into a post-offlco. 



SATANSTOE. 99 

of tlic universities ; was the lieir to a baronetcy ; knew the 
world ; had risen to a majority in the army, and was hy nature, 
as well as training, agreeable, when he had a mind to be, and 
genteel. These circumstances, I could not but feel, gave him 
a vast advantage over me ; and I heartily wished that we stood 
anywhere but in the presence of Anneke Mordaunt, as he thus 
saw fit to single me out for invidious comparison, by a sort of 
tete-a-tete, or aside. Still, I could not complain of his manner, 
which was both polite and respectful ; though I could scarce 
divest myself of the idea, that he was covertly amusing himself, 
the whole time. 

"You are a fortunate man, Mr. Littlepage," he commenced, 
" in having had it in your power to do so important a service 
to Miss Mordaunt. We all envy you your luck, while we ad- 
mire your spirit, and I feel certain the men of our regiment will 
take some proper notice of it. Miss Anneke is in possession of 
half our hearts, and we should be still more heartless to over- 
look such a service." 

I muttered some half-intelligible answer to this compliment, 
and my new acquaintance proceeded. 

"I am almost surprised, Mr. Littlepage," he added, "that a 
man of your spirit does not come afhong us in times as stirring 
as these. They tell me both your father and grandfather served, 
and that you are quite at your ease. You will find a great 
many men of merit and fashion among us, and I make no doubt 
they would contribute to make your time pass agreeably enough. 
Large reinforcements are expected, and if you are inclined for a 
pair of colors, I think I know a battalion in which there are a 
vacancy or two, and which will certainly serve in the colonies. 
It would afford me great pleasure to help to further your views, 
should you be disposed to turn them toward the army." 

Now all this was said with an air of great apparent frankness 
and sincerity, which I fancied was only the more visible from 
the circumstance that Anneke was so seated as unavoidably to 
hear every word of what was said. I observed that she even 
turned her eyes on me as I made my answer, though I divl 



100 SATAN STOE. 

not dare so far to observe lier in turn as to note tlicir ex- 
pression. 

" I am very sensible, Mr. Bulstrode, of tbe liberality and 
kindness of your intentions," I answered steadily enough, for 
pride came to my assistance, *' though I fear it will not be in 
my power to profit by it at once, if ever. My grandfather is 
still living, and he has much influence over me and my fortune, 
and I know it is his wish that I should remain at Satanstoe." 

"Where?" demanded Bulstrode, with more quickness and 
curiosity than strictly comported with good-breeding perhaps. 

" Satanstoe ; I do not wonder you smile, for it has an odd 
sound, but it is the name my grandfather has given the family 
place in Westchester. Given, I have said, though translated 
would be better, as I understand the present appellation is pretty 
literally rendered into English from the Dutch." 

" I like the name exceedingly, Mr. Littlepage, and I feel 
certain I should like your good, old, honest, Anglo-Saxon grand- 
father. But, pardon me, is it his wish you should remain at 
Satansfoot ?" 

"Satanstoe, sir; Ave do not aspire to the whole foot. It is 
my grandfather's wish that I remain at home until of age, which 
will not be now for some rrfonths." 

" By way of keeping you out of Satan's footsteps, I suppose. 
Well, these old gentlemen are often right. Should you alter 
your views, however, my dear Littlepage, do not forget me, 
but remember you can count on one who has some little in- 
fluence, and who will ever be ready to exert it in the behalf of 
one who has proved so serviceable to Miss Mordaunt. Sir 
Harry is a martyr to the gout, and talks of letting me stand in 
his place at the dissolution. In that case my wishes will nat- 
urally carry more weight. I like that name of Satanstoe 
amazingly !" 

" I am infinitely obliged to you, Mr. Bulstrode, though I 
will confess I have never looked forward to rising in the world 
by taxing my friends. One may own that he has Lid some 
hopes founded on merit and honcpty — " 



SATAN STOE. 101 

" Poll ! poll ! — my dear Littlepage, honesty is a very pretty 
thing to talk about, but I suppose you remember what Juvenal 
says on that interesting subject — " Probitas laudaticr ct al(/ety 
I dare say you are fresh enough from college to remember that 
comprehensive sentiment." 

" I have never read Juvenal, Mr. Bulstrode, and never wish 
to, if such be the tendency of what he teaches — " 

"Juvenal was a satirist, you know," interrupted Bulstrode a 
little hastily, for by this time he too had ascertained that Anneke 
was listening, and he betrayed some eagerness to get rid of so 
flagitious a sentiment; "and satirists speak of things as they 
are, rather than as they ought to be. I dare say Kome deserved 
aU she got, for the moralists give a very sad account of her 
condition. Of all the large capitals of which we have any 
account, London is the only town of even tolerable man- 
ners." 

What young Bulstrode would have ventured to say next, it 
is out of my power to guess ; for a certain Miss Warren, who 
was of the company, and who particularly affected the youth, 
luckily called out at this critical instant — 

" Your attention one moment, if you please, Mr. Bulstrode ; 
is it true that the gentlemen of the army have been getting the 
new theatre in preparation, and that they intend to favor us 
with some representations ? A secret something like this has 
just leaked out, from Mr. Harris, who even goes so far as to add 
that you can tell us all about it." 

"Mr. Harris must be put under an arrest for this, though I 
hear the colonel let the cat out of the bag, at the lieutenant- 
governor's table, as early as last week." 

" I can assure you, Mr. Bulstrode," Anneke observed calmly, 
that I have heard rumors to this effect for quite a fortnight. 
You must not blame Mr. Harris solely, for your whole regiment 
has been hinting to the same purpose far and near." 

" Then the delinquent will escape, this time. I confess the 
charge ; we have hired the new theatre, and do intend to solicit 
the honor of the ladies coming to hear me murder Cato, and 



102 BATANSTOE. 

Scrub ; a pretty climax of characters, you will admit, Miss Mot 
daunt ? 

" I know nothing of Scrub, though I have read Mr. Addi- 
son's play, and think you have no need of being ashamed of 
the character of Cato. When is the theatre to open ?" 

"We follow the sable gentry. As soon as St. Pinkster has 
received his proper share of attention, we shall introduce Dom- 
Cato and Mr. Scrub to your acquaintance." 

All the young ladies, but Anneke and her friend Mary Wal- 
lace, laughed, two or three repeating the words "St. Pinkster," 
as if they contained something .much cleverer than it was usual to 
hear. A general burst of exclamations, expressions of pleasure, 
and of questions and answers followed, in which two or three 
voices were heard at the samie moment, during which time 
Anneke turned to me, who was standing near her, at the spot 
occupied by Bulstrode a minute before, and seemed anxious 
to say something. 

"Do you seriously think of the army, Mr. Littlepage ?" she 
asked, changing color at the freedom of her own question. 

" In a war like this, no one can say when he may be called 
on to go out," I answered. "But only as a defender of the 
soil, if at all." 

I thought Anneke Mordaunt seemed pleased with this an- 
swer. After a short pause, she resumed the dialogue. 

" Of course you understand Latin, Mr. Littlepage, although 
you have not been at the universities ?" 

" As it is taught in our own colleges. Miss Mordaunt." 

" And that is sufficient to tell me what Mr. Bulstrode' s quo- 
tation means — if it be proper for me to hear." 

"He would hardly presume to use even a Latin saying in 
your presence, that is unfit for your ear. The maxim which 
!Mr. Bulstrode attributes to Juvenal, simply means ' that honesty 
is praised and starves.' " 

I thought that something like displeasure settled on the fair, 
polished brow of Miss Mordaunt, who, I could soon see, pos- 
Besscd nvjch character and high principles for one of her tender 



SATANSTOE, 103 

years. Siie said nothing, however, though she exchanged a 
very meaning glance with her friend Mary Wallace. Her lips 
were moved, and I fancied I could trace the formation of the 
sounds "honesty is praised and starves!" 

" And you are to be Cato, I hear, Mr. Bulstrode," cried one 
of the young ladies, who thought more of a scarlet coat, I fancy, 
than was for her own good. " How very charming ! Will you 
play the character in regimentals or in moJiair — in a modern or 
in an ancient dress?" 

" In my robe de -chambrc, a little altered for the occasion, 
unless St. Pinkster and his sports should suggest some more 
appropriate costume," answered the young man, lightly. 

" Are you quite aware what feast Pinkster is ?" asked Aii- 
neke, a little gravely. 

Bulstrode actually changed color, for it had never crossed 
his mind to inquire into the character of the holiday, and, to 
own the truth, the manner in which it is kept by the negroes 
of New York, never would enlighten him much on the subject. 

" That is mformation for which I perceive I am now about 
to be indebted to Miss Mordaunt." 

"Then you shall not be disappointed, Mr. Bulstrode; Pink- 
ster is neither more nor less than the festival of Whitsunday, or 
the feast of Pentecost. I suppose we shall now hear no more 
of your saint." 

Bulstrode took this little punishment, which was very sweetly 
but quite steadily uttered, with perfect good-humor, and with 
a manner so rebuked as to prove that Anneke possessed great 
control over him. He bowed in submission, and she smiled so 
kindly, that I wished the occasion for the little pantomime had 
not occurred. 

" Our ancestors, Miss Mordaunt, never heard of any Pink- 
ster, you will remember, and that must explain my ignorance," 
he said meekly. 

" But some of mine have lon<r understood it, and observed 
the festival," answered Anneke. 

" Ay, on the side of Holland — but when I presume to speak 



104 SATANSTOE. 

of our ancestors, I mean tliose wMcli I can claim the lienor of 
boasting as belonging to mc in common with yourself." 

"Are you and Mr. Bulstrodc then related?" I asked, as it 
might be involuntarily and almost too abruptly. 

Anneke replied, however, in a way to show that she thought 
the question natural for the circumstances, and not in the least 
out of place. 

" My grandfather's mother, and Mr. Bulstrode's grandfather, 
were brother and sister," was the quiet answer. "Tliis makes 
us a sort of cousins, according to those Dutch notions which 
he so much despises, though I fancy it would not count for 
much at home." 

Bulstrode protested to the contrary, stating that he knew Us 
father valued his relationship to Mr. Mordaunt, by the earnest 
manner in which he had commanded him to cultivate the ac- 
quaintance of the family the instant he reached New York. I 
saw by this, the footing on which the formidable major was 
placed in the family, every body seeming to be related to An- 
neke Mordaunt but myself. I took an occasion that very eve- 
ning, to question the dear girl on the subject of her Dutch con- 
nections, giving her a clue to mine ; but with all our industry, 
and some assistance from Hennan Mordaunt, who took an 
interest iu such a subject, as it might be ex officio, wc could 
make out no aflSnity worth mentioning. 



8ATANSX0E. 



103 



CHAPTER VII. 

"Sir Valentino, I care not for lier, I." 

"I hold him but a fool, that will endanger 
Ills body for a girl that loves him not." 

"I claim her not, and therefore she is thine." 

Two Gestlemen of Verona. 

I SAW Anne Mordaunt several times, either in the street or in 
her own house, between that evening and the day I was to dine 
with her father. The morning of the last-named day Mr. Bul- 
strode favored me with a call, and announced that he was to be 
of the party in Crowne street, 9,nd that the whole company were 
to repair to the theatre, to see his own Cato and Scrub, in the 
evening. 

"By giving yourself the trouble to call at the Crown and 
Bible, kept hard by here, in Hanover Square, or Queen street, 
by honest Hugh Gaine, you will find a package of tickets for 
yourself, Mr. and Mrs. Legge, and your relative Mr. Dirck Pol- 
lock, as I believe the gentleman is called. These Dutch have 
extraordinary patronymics, you must admit, Littlepage." 

" It may appear so to an Englishman, though our names are 
quite as odd to strangers. But Dirck Van Valkenburgh is not 
a kinsman of mine, though he is related to the Mordaunts, your 
relatives." 

"Well, it's all the same I I knew he was related to some- 
body that I knew, and I foncicd it was to yourself. I am sure 
I never see him but I wish he was in our grenadier company." 

" Dirck would do honor to any corps, but you know how it 
is with the Dutch families, Mr. Bulstrode. They still retain 
much of their attachment for Holland, and do not as often take 
service in the army, or navy, as we of English descent." 



lOG SA TANS TOE. 

"I should liavc tliought a century miglit luivc cooled tliom 
off, a little, from tlicir veneration of the meadows of Holland. 
It is the opinion at home, that New York is a particularly 
■\vcll-affectcd colony." 

"So it is, as I hear from all sides. As respects the Dutch, 
among ourselves, I have heard my grandfather say that the 
reign of King "William had a powerful influence in reconciling 
them to the new government, but since his day that they arc 
less loyal than formerly. The Van Valkenburghs, notwithstand- 
ing, pass for as good subjects as any that the house of Hanover 
possesses. On no account would I injure them in your opin- 
ion." 

" Good or bad, we shall hope to see your fi-icnd, who is a 
connection in some way, as you believe, of the Mordaunts. 
You will get but a faint idea of what one of the royal theatres 
is, Littlepagc, by this representation of ours, though it may 
serve to kill time. But I must go to rehearsal ; we shall meet 
at three." 

Here my gay and gallant major made his bow, and took his 
leave. I proceeded on to the sign of the CroAvn and the Bible, 
where I found a large collection of people, coming in quest of 
tickets. As the elite of the town would not of themselves form 
an audience sufficiently large to meet the towering ambition of 
the players, more than half the tickets were sold, the money 
being appropriated to the sick families of soldiers — those who 
were not entitled to receive aid from government. It was 
deemed a high compliment to receive tickets gratis, though 
all who did, made it a point to leave a donation to the fund, 
with Mr. Gaine. Receiving my package, I quitted the shop, 
and it being the hour for the morning promenade, I went up 
Wall street, to the Mall, as Trinity Church walk was even then 
called. Here I expected to meet Dirck, and hoped to see 
Anneke, for the place was much frequented by the young and 
gay, both in the mornings and in the evenings. The bands of 
different regiments were stationed in the churchyard, and the 
company were often treated to much fine martial music. Some 



SATANSTOE. 107 

few of the uiurc scrupulous objected to this desecration ol" the 
churchyard, but the army had every thing pretty much in its 
own way. As they were supposed to do nothing but what 
was approved of at home, the dissenters were httle heeded, nor 
do I think the army would have greatly cared, had they been 
more numerous, 

I dare say there were fifty young ladies promenading the 
church-walk when I reached it, and nearly as many young men 
in attendance on them ; no small portion of the last being 
scarlet-coats, though the mohairs had their representatives 
there too. A few blue-jackets were among "us also, there being 
two or three king's cruisers in port As no one presumed to 
promenade the Mall, who was not of a certain stamp of respec- 
tability, the company were all gayly dressed ; and I will confess 
that I was much struck with the air of the place, the first time 
I showed myself among the gay idlers. The impression made 
on me that morning was so vivid, that I will endeavor to de- 
scribe the scene, as it now presents itself to my mind. 

In the first place, there was the noble street, quite eighty 
feet in width in its narrowest part, and gradually expanding as 
you looked toward the bay, until it opened into an area of more 
than twice that width, at the place called the Bowling-Green.* 
Then came the fort, crowning a sharp eminence, and overlook- 
ing every thing in that quarter of the town. In the rear of the 
fort, or in its front, taking a water view, lay the batteries that 
had been built on the rocks which form the south-western ter- 
mination of the island. Over these rocks, which were black 
and picturesque, and over the batteries they supported, was 
obtained a view of the noble bay, dotted here and there with 
some speck of a sail, or possibly with some vessel anchored on 
its placid bosom. Of the two rows of elegant houses, most of 
them brick, and, with very few exceptions, principally of two 

* Mr. Cornelius Littlepage betrays not a little of provincial ailmiration, as the 
reader will see. I have not tliou^Ut it necessary to prune these passages, tlieir causes 
being too familiar to leave any danger of their insertion's being misunderstood. Ad- 
miration of Broadway, certainly not more tlian a tliird-class street, as streets go in the 
old world, is so very coinmou among us as to need no ajiology. — Editou. 



108 SATANSTOE. 

stories in height, it is scarcely necessary to speak, as there are 
few who have not heard of, and formed some notion of Broad 
way ; a street that all agree is one day to be the pride of the 
western world. 

In the other direction, I will admit that the view was not so 
remarkable, the houses being principally of wood, and of a 
somewhat ignoble appearance. Nevertheless the army were said 
to frequent those habitations quite as much as they did any 
other in the place. After reaching the Common, or present 
Park, where the great Boston road led off into the country, 
the view was just the reverse of that which was seen in the 
opposite quarter. Here, all was inland, and rural. It is true, 
the new Bridewell had been erected in that quarter, and there 
was also a new gaol, both facing the Common ; and the king's 
troops had barracks in their rear ; but high, abrupt, conical 
hills, with low marshy land, orchards and meadows, gave to all 
that portion of the island a peculiarly novel and somewhat 
picturesque character. Many of the hills in that quarter, and 
indeed all over the widest part of the island, are now surmounted 
by country-houses, as some were then, including Petersfield, 
the ancient abode of the Stuyvesants, or that farm which, by 
being called after the old Dutch governor's retreat, has given 
the name of Bowery, or Bouerie, to the road that led to it ; as 
well as the Bowery House, as it was called, the country abode 
of the then lieutenant-governor, James De Lancey, Mount 
Bayard, a place belonging to that respectable family ; Mount 
Pitt, another that was the property of Mrs. Jones, the wife of 
Mr. Justice Jones, a daughter of James De Lancey, and various 
other mounts, houses, hills, and places, that are famUiar to the 
gentry and people of New York. 

But the reader can imagine for himself the effect produced 
by such a street as Broadway, reaching very nearly half a mile 
in length, terminating at one end, in an elevated, commanding 
fort, with its background of batteries, rocks and bay, and, at 
the other, with the Common, on which troops were now con- 
stantly parading, the Bridewell and gaol, and the novel scene I 



SATANSTOE. lUiJ 

have just mentioned. Nor is Trinity itself to be forgotten. This 
edifice, one of the noblest, if not the most noble of its kind, in 
all the colonies, with its Gothic architecture, statues in carved 
stone, and flanking walls, was a close accessory of the view, 
giving to the whole grandeur, and a moral.* 

As has been said, I found the Mall crowded with young 
persons of fashion and respectability. This Mall was near a 
hundred yards in length ; and it follows that there must have 
been a goodly show of youth and beauty. The fine weather 
had commenced ; spring had fairly opened ; Pinkster blossoms 
(the wild honeysuckle) had been seen in abundance throughout 
the week ; and every thing and person appeared gay and happy. 

I could discover that my person in this crowd attracted at- 
tention as a stranger. I say as a stranger; for I am unwilling 
to betray so mucb vanity as to ascribe the manner in which 
many eyes followed me, to any vain notion that I was known 
or admired. Still, I will not so far disparage the gifts of a 
bountiful Providence, as to leave tbe impression that my face, 
person, or air was particularly disagreeable. This would not 
be the fact ; and I have now reached a time of life when some- 
thing like the truth may be told, without the imputation of 
conceit. My mother often boasted to her intimates, "that 
Corny was one of the best-made, handsomest, most active, and 
genteelest youths in the colony." This I know, for such things 
will leak out; but mothers are known to have a remarkable 
weakness on the subject of their children. As I was the sole 
surviving offspring of my dear mother, who was one of the best- 
hearted women that ever breathed, it is highly probable that 
the notions she entertained of her son partook largely of the 
love she bore me. It is true, my aunt Legge, on more than 
one occasion, has been heard to express a very similar opinion ; 
though nothing can be more natural than that sisters should 

* The provincial admiration of Mr. Cornelius Littlepage was not quite as much in 
fault, as respects the church, as the superciliousness of our more modern tastes and 
opinions may lead us to suspect. The church that was burned in 17TG, was a larger 
edifice than that just pulled down, and, in many respects, was its superior.— Enixon 



110 SATANSTOE. 

think alike, on a family matter of this particular nature, more 
especially as my aunt Legge never had a child of her own to 
love and praise. 

Let all this be as it may, well stared at was I, as I mingled 
among the idlers on Trinity Church walk, on the occasion 
named. As for myself, my own eyes were bent anxiously on 
the face of every pretty, delicate young creature that passed, 
in the hope of seeing Anneke. I both wished and dreaded to 
meet her ; for, to own the truth, my mind was dwelling on her 
beauty, her conversation, her sentiments, her grace, her gentle- 
ness, and withal her spirit, a good deal more than half the time. 
I had some qualms on the subject of Dirck, I will confess ; but 
Dirck was so young, that his feelings could not be much inter- 
ested, after all ; and then Anneke was a second cousin, and that 
was clearly too near to marry. My grandfather had always put 
his foot down firmly against any connection between relations 
that were nearer than tlurd cousins ; and I now saw how 
proper were his reasons. If they were even farther removed, 
so much the better, he said ; and so much the better it was. 

If the reader should ask me why I dreaded to meet Anne 
Mordaunt, under such circumstances, I might be at a loss to 
give him a very intelligible answer. I feared even to see the 
sweet face I sought ; and oh ! how soft, serene, and angel-like 
it Avas, at that budding age of seventeen ! — but, though I almost 
feared to see it, when at last I saw her I had so anxiously sought 
approaching me, arm and arm with Mary Wallace, having Bul- 
strode next herself, and Harris next her friend, my eyes were 
instantly averted, as if they had unexpectedly lighted on some- 
thing disagreeable. I should have passed without even the 
compliment of a bow, had not my friends been more at their 
ease, and more accustomed to the free ways of town life than I 
happened to be myself. 

"How's this, Cornelius, Cceur de Lion P'' exclaimed Bul- 
strode, stopping, thus causing the whole party to stop with 
him, or to appear to wish to avoid me ; " will you not recog- 
nize us, though it is not an hour since you and I parted ? I 



SAT AN ST OE. Ill 

hope you found tlic tickets ; and Avlicn you liave answered 
" yes," I hope you avIU turn and do me tlie lionor to bow to 
tlicse ladies." 

I apologized, I am afraid I blushed ; for I detected Anneke 
looking at me, as I thought, with some little concern, as if she 
pitied my awkward country embarrassment. As for Bulstrode, 
I did not understand him at that time ; it exceeding my ob- 
servation to be certain whether he considered me of sufficient 
importance or not, to feel any concern on my account, in his 
very obvious suit with Anneke. Nevertheless, as he treated 
me with cordiality and respect, while he dealt with me so 
frankly, there was not room to take offence. Of course, I turned 
and Avalked back with the party, after I had properly saluted 
the ladies and Mr. Harris. 

" Coeur de Lion is a better name for a soldier than for a 
civilian ;" said Anneke, as we moved forward ; " and, how- 
ever much Mr. Littlepage may deserve the title, I am not certain, 
Mr. Bulstrode, he would not prefer leaving it among you gen- 
tlemen who serve the king." 

" I am glad of this occasion, Mr. Littlepage, to enlist you on 
my side, in a warfare I am compelled to wage with Miss Anne 
Mordaunt," said the major gaily. " It is on the subject of the 
great merit of us poor fellows who have crossed the wide 
Atlantic in order to protect the colonies. New York among the 
number, and their people. Miss Mordaunt and Miss "Wallace in- 
clusively, from the grasp of their wicked enemies, the French. 
The former young lady has a way of reasoning on the matter to 
which I cannot assent, and I am willing to choose you as arbi- 
trator between us." 

" Before Mr. Littlepage accept the office, it is proper he 
should know its duties and responsibilities," said Anneke, 
smiling. " In the first place, he will find Mr. Bulstrode, with 
loud professions of attachment to the colonies, much disposed 
to think them provinces that owe their very existence to Eng- 
land ; while I maintain it is Englis]i??iew-, and that it is not Eng- 
land, that have done so much in America. As for New York, 



112 SATANSTOE. 

Mr. Littlepage, and especially as for you and me, we can also 
say a word in favor of Holland. I am very proud of my Dutch 
connections and Dutcli descent." 

I was much gratified with the " as for you and me ;" though 
I believe I cared less for Holland than she did herself. I made 
an answer much in the vein of the moment ; but the conversa- 
tion soon changed to the subject of the military theatre that was 
about to open. 

" I shall dread you as a critic, cousin Annie," so Bulstiodc 
often termed Anneke, as I soon discovered; *'I find you are 
not too well disposed to us of the cockade, and I think you have 
a particular spite to our regiment. I know that Billings and 
Harris, too, hold you in the greatest possible dread." 

"They then feel apprehensive of a very ignorant critic; for 
I never was present at a theatrical entertainment in my life," 
Anneke answered with perfect simplicity. " So far as I can 
learn, there never has been but one season of any regular com 
pany, in this colony ; and that was when I was a very little and 
a very young girl — as I am now neither very large, nor very old 
as a young woman." 

"You see, Littlepage, with how much address my cousin 
avoids adding, and ' very uninteresting, and very ugly, and very 
disagreeable, and very much unsought,' and fifty other things 
she might add with such perfect truth and modesty ! But 
is it true, that the theatre was open only one season, here ?" 

" So my father tells me, though I know very little of the 
facts themselves. To-night will be my first appearance m front 
of any stage, Mr. Bulstrode, as I understand it will be your first 
appearance on it." 

"In one sense the last will be true, though not altogether in 
another. As a school-boy, I have often played, school-boy 
fashion ; but this is quite a new thing with us, to be amateur 
players." 

" It may seem ungrateful, when you are making so many 
efforts, principally to amuse us young ladies, I feel convinced, to 
inquire if it be quite as wise as it is novel. I must ask this, as 



SATANSTOE. 113 

a cousin, you know, Henry Bulstrodc, to escape entirely from 
the imputation of impertinence." 

"Really, Anneke Mordaunt, I am not absolutely certain that 
it is. Our manners are beginning to change in this respect, 
however, and I can assure you that various noblemen have per- 
mitted sports of this sort at their seats. The custom is French, 
as you probably know, and whatever is French has much vogue 
with us during times of peace. Sir Harry does not altogether 
approve of it, and as for my lady mother, she has actually 
dropped more than one discouraging hint on the subject in her 
letters." 

"The certain proof that you are a most dutiful son. Per- 
haps when Sir Harry and Lady Bulstrode learn your great suc- 
cess, however, they will overlook the field on which your 
laurels have been won. But our hour has come, Mary; we 
have barely time to thank these gentlemen for their politeness, 
and to return in season to dress. I am to enact a part myself, 
at dinner, as I hope you will all remember." 

Saying this, Anneke made her courtesies in a way to preclude 
any offer of seeing her home, and went her way with her 
silent but sensible-looking and pretty friend. Bulstrode took 
my arm with an air of easy superiority, and led the way to- 
ward his own lodgings, which happened to be in Duke street. 
Harris joined another party, making it a point to be always late 
at dinner. 

" That is not only one of the handsomest, but she is one of 
the most charming girls in the colonies, Littlepage 1" my com- 
panion exclaimed, as soon as we had departed, speaking at the 
same time with an earnestness and feeling I was far from ex- 
pecting. "Were she in England', she would make one of the 
first women in it, by the aid of a little fashion and training ; 
and very little would do too, for there is a charm in her naivete 
that is worth the art of fifty women of fashion." 

" Fashion is a thing that any one may want who does not 
happen to be in vogue," I answered, notwithstanding the great 
degree of surprise I felt. " As for training, I can see nothing 



114 SATANSTOE. 

but perfection in Miss Mordaunt as she is, and slioukl deprecate 
the lessons tliat produced any change." 

I beUeve it was now Bulstrode's tuni to feel surprise, for I 
was conscious of his casting a keen look into my face, though 
I did not like to return it. My companion was silent for a 
minute ; then, without again adverting to Anneke, he began to 
converse very sensibly on the subject of theatres and plays. I 
was both amused and instructed, for Mr. Bulstrode was an edu- 
cated and a clever man ; and a strange feeling came over the 
spirit of my dream, even then, as I listened to his conversation. 
This man, I thought, admires Anne Mordaunt, and he will 
probably carry her with him to England, and obtain for her that 
fashion and training of Avhich he has just spoken. With his 
advantages of birth, air, fortune, education, and military rank, 
he can scarcely fail in his suit, should he seriously attempt one ; 
and it will be no more than prudent to command my own feel- 
ings, lest I become the hopeless victim of a serious passion. 
Young as I was, all this I saw, and thus I reasoned ; and when 
I parted from my companion I fancied myself a much wiser 
man than Avhen we had met. We separated in Duke street, 
with a promise on my part to call at the major's lodgings half 
an hour later, after dressing, and walk with him to Herman 
Mordaunt' s door. 

"It is fortunate that it is the fashion of New York to walk 
to a dinner party," said Bulstrode, as he again took my arm on 
our way to Crown street; "for these narrow streets must bo 
excessively inconvenient for chariots, though I occasionally see 
one of them. As for sedan chairs, I detest them as things unfit 
for a man to ride in." 

"Many of our leading families keep carriages, and thcij seem 
to get along well enough," I answered. "Nevertheless, it is 
quite in fashion even for ladies to walk. I understand that 
many, perhaps most of your auditors, will walk to the play- 
house door this evening." 

"They tell me as much," said Bulstrode, curling his lip a 
little, in a way I did not exactly like. "Notwithstanding, 



SATANSTOE. 115 

there will be maiij^ cliarming creatures among them, and they 
shall be welcome. Well, Littlepage, I do not despair of hav- 
ing you among us ; for, to be candid, without wishing to boast, 

I think you will find the th as liberal a set of young men 

as there is in the service. There is a wish to have the mohairs 
among us, instead of shutting ourselves up altogether in scarlet. 
Then your father and grandfather have both served, and that 
will be a famous introduction." 

I protested my unfitness for such an amusement, never having 
seen such an exhibition in my life ; but to this my companion 
would not hsten ; and we picked our way, as well as we could, 
through William street, up Wall, and then by Nassau into 
Crown ; Herman Mordaunt owning a new house, that stood 
not far from Broadway, in the latter street. This was rather in 
a remote part of the town ; but the situation had the advantage 
of good air ; and, as a place extends, it is necessary some per- 
sons should live on its skirts. 

" I wish* my good cousin did not live so much in the sub- 
urbs," said Bulstrode, as he knocked in a very patrician man- 
ner; "it is not altogether convenient to go quite so much out 
of one's ordinary haunts, in order to pay visits. I wonder Mr. 
Mordaunt came so far out of the world to build." 

"Yet the distances of London must be much greater, though 
there you have coaches." 

"True; but not a word more on this subject; I would not 
have Anneke fancy I ever find it far to visit Aer." 

We were the last but one ; the tardy Mr. Harris making it 
a point always to be the last. We found Anneke Mordaunt 
supported by two or three ladies of her connection, and a party 
of quite a dozen assembled. As most of those present saw 
each other every day, and frequently two or three times a 
day, the salutations and compliments were soon over, and 
Herman Mordaunt began to look about him, to see who Avas 
wanting. 

"I believe everybody is here but Mr. Harris," the father 
observed to his daughter, interrupting some of Mr. Bulstrodc's 



116 8ATANST0E. 

conversation, to let tliis fact be known. "Shall wc wait Ibr 
him, my dear; he is usually so uncertain and late?" 

"Yet a very important man," put in Bulstrode, "as being 
entitled to lead the lady of the house to the table, in virtue of 
his birthright. So much for being the fourth son of an Irish 
baron 1 Do you know Harris's father has just been ennobled?" 

This was news to the company ; and it evidently much in- 
creased the doubts of the propriety of sitting down without the 
young man in question. 

"Failing of this son of a new Irish baron, I suppose you 
fancy I shall be obliged to give my hand to the eldest son of 
an English baronet," said Anneke, smiUng, so as to take off 
the edge of a little irony that I fancy just glimmered in her 
manner. 

" I wish to heaven you would, Anne Mordaunt," whispered 
Bulstrode, loud enough for me to hear him, ' ' so that the heart 
were its companion !" 

I thought this both bold and decided ; and I 16oked anx- 
iously at Anneke, to note the effect ; but she evidently received 
it as trifling, certainly betraying no emotion at a speech I 
thought so pointed. I wished she had manifested a little re- 
sentment. Then she was so very young to be thus impor- 
tuned. 

"Dinner had better be served, sir," she calmly observed to 
her father. "Mr. Harris is apt to think himself ill-treated if 
he do not find every body at table. It would be a sign his 
watch was wrong, and that he came half an hour too soon." 

Herman Mordaunt nodded assent, and left his daughter's side 
to give the necessary order. 

" I fancy Harris will regret this," said Bulstrode. " I wish 
I dared repeat what he had the temerity to say to me on this 
very subject, no later than yesterday." 

" Of the propriety of so doing Mr. Bulstrode must judge 
for himself; though repetitions of this nature arc usually best 
avoided." 

" No, the fellow deserves it ; so I will jaat toll you and Mr 



SATANSTOE. 117 

Liltlcpagc in confidence. You must know that as his senior in 
years, and his senior officer in the bargain, I was hinting to 
Harris the inexpediency of always being so late to dinner ; and 
here is my gentleman's answer: — 'You know,' said he, 'that 
excepting my lord Loudon, the commander-in-chief, the gov- 
ernor, and a few public officers, I shall now take precedence of 
almost every man here ; and I find, if I go early to dinner, I 
shall have to hand in all the elderly ladies, and to take my place 
at their sides ; whereas, if I go a little late, I can steal in along- 
side of their daughters.' Now, on the present occasion, he will 
be altogether a loser, the lady of the house not yet being quite 
fifty." 

"I had not given Mr. Harris credit for so much ingenuity," 
said Anneke, quietly. " But here he is, to claim his rights." 

"Ay, the fellow has remembered your age, and quite likely 
your attrac lions P ' 

Dinner was announced at that instant, and all eyes were 
turned on Harris, in expectation that he would advance to lead 
Anneke down stairs. The young man, even more youthful than 
myself, had a good deal of mauvaise honie ; for though the son 
of an Irish peer, of two months' creation, the family was not 
strictly Irish, and he had very little ambition to figure in this 
manner. From what I saw of him subsequently, I do believe 
that nothing but a sense of duty to his order made him respect 
these privileges of rank at all, and that he would really just as 
soon go to the dinner-table last, as first. In the present case, 
however, he was soon relieved by Herman Mordaunt, who had 
been educated at home, and understood the usages of the world 
very well. 

"Gentlemen," he said, " I must ask you to waive the privi- 
leges of rank in favor of Mr. Cornelius Littlepage, to-day. This 
good company has met to do honor especially to his courage 
and devotion to his fellow-creatures, and he will do me the 
Tavor to hand Miss Mordaunt down stairs." 

Herman Mordaunt then pointed out to the lion. Mr. Harris 
the next lady of importance, and to Mr. Bulstrode a third ; 



118 SATANSTOE. 

after wliicli all the rest took care of tlicmselvcs. As for myscif, 
I felt my face in a glow, at this unexpected order, and scarcely 
dared to look at Anneke as we led the way to the diuing-room 
door. So much abashed was I, that I scarce touched the tips 
of her slender little fingers, and a tremor was in the limb that 
performed this office, the whole time it was thus employed. 
Of course, my seat was next to that of the young and lovely 
mistress of the house, at this banquet. 

What shall I say of the dinner ? It was the very first en- 
tertainment of the sort at which I had ever been present; 
though I had acquired some of the notions of town habits, on 
such occasions, at my aunt Lcgge's table. To my surprise, 
there was soup ; a dish that I never saw at Satanstoe, except in 
the most familiar way ; while here it was taken by every one, 
seemingly as a matter of course. Every thing was elegant, and 
admirably cooked. Abundance, however, was the great feature 
of the feast ; as I have heard it said, is apt to be the case 
with most New York entertainments. Nevertheless, I have 
always understood that, in the way of eating and drinking, the 
American colonies have little reason to be ashamed. 

" Could I have foreseen this dinner, Miss Mordaunt," I 
said, when every body was employed, and I thought there was 
an opening to say something to my beautiful neighbor, " it 
would have made my father very happy to have sent a sheeps- 
head to town, for the occasion." 

Ajineke thanked me, and then we began to converse about 
the game. Westchester was, and is still, famous for partridges, 
snipes, quails, ducks, and meadow-larks ; and I understood ex- 
patiating on such a subject, as well as the best of them. All 
the Littlepages were shots ; and I have known my father bag 
ten brace of woodcock, among the wet thickets of Satanstoe, 
of a morning ; and this with merely a second-class dog, and 
only one. Both Bulstrode and Harris listened to what I 
said on this subject with great attention, and it soon would 
have been the engrossing discourse, had not Anneke pleaa- 
untly said — 



SATANSTOE. 119 

"All very Avell, gentlemen ; l)ut you will remember that nei- 
ther Miss WiiUace nor I shoot." 

"Except with the arrows of CupiJ," answered Bulstrodc, 
gayly ; "with these you do so much execution between you,'''' 
emphasizing the words, so as to make me look foolish, for I sat 
between them, "that you ought to be condemned to heai 
nothing but fowling conversation for the next year." 

This produced a laugh, a little at my expense, I believe ; 
though I could see that Anneke blushed, while Mary Wallace 
smiled indifferently ; but as the healths now began, there was a 
truce to trifling. And a serious thing it is, to drink to every 
body by name, at a large table ; serious I mean to a new begin- 
ner. Yet, Herman Mordaunt went through it with a grace and 
dignity, that I think Avould have been remarked at a royal ban- 
quet. The ladies acquitted themselves admirably, omitting no 
one ; and even Harris felt the necessity of being particular with 
this indispensable part of good-breeding. So Avell done was 
this part of the ceremony, that I declare, I believe every body 
had drunk to every body, within five minutes after Herman 
Mordaunt commenced ; and it was very apparent that there was 
more ease and true gayety after all had got through, than there 
had previously been. 

But the happy period of every dinner-party, is after the cloth 
is removed. With the dark, polished mahogany for a back- 
ground, the sparkling decanters making their rounds, the fruit 
and cake baskets, the very scene seems to inspire one with a 
wish for gayety. Herman Mordaunt called for toasts, as soon as 
the cloth disappeared, with a view I believe of putting every 
body at ease, and to render the conversation more general. He 
was desired to set the example, and immediately gave " Miss 
Markham," who, as I was told, was a single lady of forty, with 
whom he had carried on a little flirtation. Anneke' s turn came 
next, and she chose to give a sentiment, notwithstanding all 
Bulstrode's remonstrances, who insisted on a gentleman. He 
did not succeed, however; Anneke very steadily gave "The 
Thespian corps of the th ; may it pi-ovc as successful in the 



120 SATANSTOE. 

arts of peace, as in its military character it lias often proved 
itself to be iu the art of war." Much applause followed this 
toast, and Harris was persuaded by Bulstrode to stand up, and 
say a few words, for the credit of the regiment. Such a speech ! 
It reminded me of the horse that was advertised as a show, in 
London, about this time, and which was said "to have its tail 
where its head ought to be." But Bulstrode clapped his 
hands, and cried " hear," at every other word, protesting that 
the regiment was honored as much in the thanks, as in the senti- 
ment. Harris did not seem displeased with his own effort, and, 
presuming on his rank, he drank, without being called on, "to 
the fair of New York ; eminent alike for beauty and wit, may 
they only become as merciful as they are victorious." 

"Bravo !" again cried Bulstrode — "Harris is fairly inspired, 
and is growing better and better. Had he said imminent, in- 
stead of eminent, it would be more accurate, as their frowns are 
as threatening as their smiles are bewitching." 

"Is that to pass for your sentiment, Mr. Bulstrode, and arc 
we to drink it?" demanded Herman Mordaunt. 

"By no means, sir; I have the honor to give Lady Dolly 
Merton." 

Who lady Dolly was, nobody knew, I believe, though we of 
the colonies always drank a titled person, who was known to be 
at home, with a great deal of respectful attention, not to say 
veneration. Other toasts followed, and then the ladies were 
asked to sing. Ann eke complied, with very little urging, as 
became her position, and never did I hear sweeter strains than 
those she poured forth ! The air was simple, but melody itself, 
and the sentiment had just enough of the engrossing feeling of 
woman in it, to render it interesting, without in the slightest 
degree impairing its fitness for the virgin lips from which it 
issued. Bulstrode, I could see, was almost entranced ; and I 
heard him murmur, "An angel, by heaven!" He sang, him- 
self, a love-song full of delicacy and feeling, and in a way to 
show that he had paid much attention to the art of music. 
Harris sang, too, as did Mary Wallace ; the former, much .13 



8ATANST0E, 



121 



he spoke ; the last plaintively, and decidedly well. Even Her 
man Mordaunt gave us a strain, and my turn followed. Sing- 
ing was somewhat of a forte with me, and I have reason to 
think I made out quite as well as the best of them. I know 
that Anneke seemed pleased, and I saw tears in her eyes, as I 
concluded a song that was intended to produce just such an 
effect. 

At length the youthful mistress of the house arose, remind- 
ing her father that he had at table the principal performer of 
the evening, by way of a caution, when three or four of us 
handed the ladies to the drawing-room door. Instead of re- 
turning to the table, I entered the room, and Bulstrode did the 
same, under the plea of its being necessary for him to drink no 
more on account of the work before him. 




:t'Y"-Vr*nC 




122 SATAN STOK. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

" Odds bodikins, man, much better: use 
Every man after his desert, and who shall 'scape 
Whipping? use them after your own honor 
And dignity : the less they deserve, the more 
Merit is in your bounty." 

IIamlet. 

"Harris will be hors de combat,'''' Bulstrode soon obseiTcd, 
" unless I can manage to get him from the table. You know 
he is to play Marcia this evening ; and, though a little wine will 
give him fire and spirit for the part, too much will impair its 
feminine beauties. Addison never intended that * the virtuous 
Marcia,' in towering above her sex, was to be picked out of a 
kennel, or from under a table. Harris is a true Irish peer, 
when claret is concerned." 

All the ladies held up their hands, and protested against Mr. 
Harris being permitted to act a travesty on their sex. As yet, 
no one had known how the characters were to be cast, beyond 
the fact that Bulstrode himself was to play Cato, for great care 
had been taken to keep the bills of the night from being seen, 
in order that the audience might have the satisfaction of finding 
out who was who, for themselves. At the close of each piece 
a bill was to be sent round, among the favored few, telling the 
truth. As Anneke declared that her father never locked in his 
guests, and had faithfully promised to bring up every body for 
coffee in the course of half an hour, it was determined to let 
things take their own way. 

Sure enough, at the end of the time mentioned, Herman 
Mordaunt appeared, with all the men, from the table. Harris was 
not tipsy, as I found was very apt to be the case with him after 
dinner, but neither was he sober. According to Bulstrode's 



SATANSTOE. 123 

notion, he may liave had just fire enough to play the " virtuous 
Marcia." In a few minutes he hurried the ensign off, declaring 
tliat, like Hamlet's ghost, their hour had come. At seven, the 
whole party left the house in a body to walk to the theatre. 
Herman Mordaunt did not keep a proper town equipage, and, 
if he had, it would not have contained a fourth of our company. 
In this, however, we were not singular, as nine in ten of the 
audience that night, I mean nine in ten of the gentle sex, Avent 
to the theatre on foot. 

Instead of going directly down Crown street, into Maiden 
Lane, which would have been the nearest way to the theatre, 
we went out into Broadway, and round by Wall street, the 
walking being better, and the gutters farther from the ladies ; 
the centre of the street being at no great distance from the 
houses, in the narrower passages of the town. We found a 
great many well-dressed people moving in the same direction 
with ourselves. Herman Mordaunt remarked that he had never 
before seen so many hoops, cardinals, cocked hats and swords 
in the streets, at once, as he saw that evening. All the car- 
riages in town rolled past us as we went down Wall street, and 
by the time we reached William street, the pavements resembled 
a procession, more than any thing else. As every one was in 
full dress the effect was pleasing, and the evening being fine, 
most of the gentlemen carried their hats in their hands, in order 
not to disturb their curls, thus giving to the whole the air of a 
sort of vast drawing-room. I never saw a more lovely creature 
than Anneke Mordaunt appeared, as she led our party, on this 
occasion. The powder had got a little out of her fine auburn 
hair, and on the part of the head that was not concealed by a 
cap, that shaded half her beautiful face, it seemed as if the rich 
covering bestowed by nature was about to break out of all 
restraint, and shade her bust with its exuberance. Her negligee 
was a rich satin, flounced in front, while the lace that dropped 
from her elbows seemed as if woven by fairies, expressly for a 
fairy to wear. She had paste buckles in her shoes, and I 
thought I had never beheld such a foot, as was occasionally seen 



124 SATANSTOE. 

peeping from beneath her dress, Avliile slie -walked daintily, yet 
witli the gi'ace of a queen, at my side. I do not thus describe 
Anneke "with a view of inducing the reader to fancy her stately 
and repulsive ; on the contrary, -winning ease and natural grace 
Avere just as striking in her manner, as were beauty, and senti- 
ment, and feeling in her coimtcnance. More than once, as -we 
■walked side by side, did I become painfully conscious ho-vv un- 
"worthy I was to fill the place I occupied, I believe this humility 
is one of the surest signs of sincere love. 

At length, -we reached the theatre, and -were permitted to 
enter. All the front seats -were occupied by blacks, principally 
in New York liveries ; that is to say, with cuffs, collars and 
pocket-flaps of a cloth different from the coat, though a few- 
were in lace. These last belonged to the topping families, 
several of which gave colors and ornaments almost as rich as 
those that I understand are constantly given at home. I well 
remember that two entire boxes were retained by servants, in 
shoulder-knots, and much richer dresses than common, one of 
whom belonged to the lieutenant-governor, and the other to 
my lord Loudon, who was then commander-in-chief. As the 
company entered, these domestics disappeared, as is usual, and 
we all took our seats on the benches thus retained for us. Bul- 
strode's care was apparent in the manner in which he had 
provided for Anneke, and her party, which, I will take it on 
myself to say, was one of the most striking, for youth and good 
looks, that entered the house that evening. 

Great was the curiosity, and deep the feeling, that prevailed 
among the younger portion of the audience in particular, as 
party after party was seated, that important evening. The 
house was ornamented as a theatre, and I thought it vast in 
extent ; though Herman Mordaunt assured me it was no great 
things, in that point of view, as compared with most of the 
playhouses at home. But the ornaments, and the lights, and 
the curtain, the pit, the boxes, the gallery, were all so many ob- 
jects of intense interest. Few of us said any thing ; but our eyes 
wandered over all with a species of delight, that I r.m certain 



SATANSTOE, 125 

can be felt in a theatre only once. Auncke's sweet face was a 
picture of youtliful expectation ; an expectation, however, in 
wliicli intelligence and discretion had their full share. The 
orchestra was said to have an undue portion of wind instrumentt 
in it ; though I perceived ladies all over the house, including 
tliose in our own box, returning the bows of many of the musi- 
cians, who, I was told, were amateurs from the army and the 
draAving-rooms of the town. 

At length the commander-in-chief and the lieutenant-2;ov- 
crnor entered together, occupying the same box, though two 
had been provided, their attendants ha\dng recourse to the sec- 
ond. The commotion produced by these arrivals had hardly 
subsided, when the curtain arose, and a new world was pre- 
sented to our view ! Of the playing, I shall not venture to say 
much ; though to me it seemed perfection. Bulstrode gained 
great applause that night ; and I understand that divers gentle- 
men, who had either been educated at home, or who had passed 
much time there, declared that his Cato would have done credit 
to either of the royal theatres. His dress appeared to me to be 
every thing it should be ; though I cannot describe it. I re- 
member that Syphax wore the uniform of a colonel of dragoons, 
and Juba that of a general officer ; and that there was a good 
deal of criticism expended, and some offence taken, because the 
gentlemen who played these parts came out in wool, and with 
their faces blacked. It was said, in answer to these feelings, 
that the characters were Africans ; and that any one might see, 
by casting his eyes at the gallery, that Africans are usually 
black, and that they have woolly hair ; a sort of proof that, I 
imagine, only aggravated the offence.* Apart from this little 
mistake, every thing went off well, even to virtuous Marcia. It 
is true that some evil-inclined persons whispered that the " vir- 
tuous Marcia" was a little how-came-you-so ; but Bulstrode 



* In Eiif;lanJ, Othello is usually pUiycil as a black, wliile in Anieiicft he is played as 
n noniloscript; or of no color that is ordinarily seen. It is not clear that England is 
nearer light than America, however; the Moor not being a negro, any more than he 
u of the color of a dried herring. — Editok. 



126 SATANSTOE. 

afterward assured mo tLat his condition lielpcd liini along 
amazingly, and that it added a liquid lustre to his eyes, that 
might otherwise have been wanting. The high-heeled shoe^ 
appeared to trouble him ; but some persons fancied it gave him 
a pretty tottering in his walk, that added very much to the 
deception. On the whole, the piece went off surprisingly, as I 
could see by Lord Loudon and the lieutenant-governor, both of 
whom seemed infinitely diverted. Herman Mordaunt smiled 
once or twice, when he ought to have looked grave ; but this I 
ascribed to a want of practice, of late years, in scenic represen- 
tations. He certainly was a man of judgment, and must have 
known the proper moments to exhibit particular emotions. 

During the interval between the play and the farce, the 
actoi-s came among us, to receive the homage they merited, 
and loud were the plaudits that were bestowed on them. 
Anneke's bright eyes sparkled Avith pleasure as she admitted, 
without reserve, to Bulstrode the pleasure she had received, 
and confessed she had formed no idea, hitherto, of the beauty 
and power of a theatrical representation, aided as was this, by 
the auxiliaries of lights, dress and scenery. It is true, the 
women had been a little absurd, and the "virtuous Marcia" 
particularly so ; but the fine sentiments of Addison, which, 
though as Herman Mordaunt observed, they had all the accuracy 
and all the stiffness of a pedantic age, were sufficiently beautiful 
and just, to cover the delinquencies of the honorable Mr. Harris. 
She hoped the after-piece would be of the same general charac- 
ter, that they might all enjoy it as much as they had the play 
itself. 

The other young ladies were equally decided in their praise, 
though it struck me that Armcke felt the most, on the occasion. 
That the major had obtained a great advantage by his efforts, 
I could not but see; and the folly of my having any pretensions 
with one who was courted by such a rival, began to impress 
itself on my imagination with a force I found painful. But the 
bell soon summoned away the gallant actors, in order to dress 
for the farce. 



SATANSTOE 



127 



The long interval that occurred between the two pieces, gave 
ample opportunity for visiting one's acquaintances, and to com- 
pare opinions. I went to my aunt's box, and found her well 
satisfied, though less animated than the younger ladies, in the 
expression of her pleasure. My uncle was altogether himself; 
good-natured, but not disposed to award any indiscreet amount 
of praise. 

"Pretty well for boys. Corny," he said, " though the young- 
ster who acted Marcia had better been at school. I do not 
know his name, but he completely took all the virtue out of 
Marcia. He must have studied her character from some of the 
ladies who follow the camp." 

"My dear uncle, how differently you think from all in our 
box ! That gentleman is the Honorable Mr. Harris, who is 

only eighteen, and has a pair of colors in the th, and is 

a son of Lord Ballybannon, or Bally-something else, and is said 
to have the softest voice in the army !" 

" Ay, and the softest head, too, I'll answer for it. I tell 
you, Corny, the Honorable Mr. Ballybilly, who is only eighteen, 

and has a pair of colors in the th, and the softest voice in 

the army, had better been at school, instead of undermining the 
virtue of the "virtuous Marcia," as he has so obviously done. 
Bulstrode did well enough ; capitally well, for an amateur, and 
must be a first-rate fellow. By the way, Jane" — that was my 
aunt's name — " they tell me, he is likely to marry that exceed- 
ingly pretty daughter of Herman Mordaunt, and make her Lady 
Bulstrode, one of these days." 

"Why not, Mr. Legge ? — ^Anne Mordaunt is as sweet a girl 
as there is in the colony, and is very respectably connected. 
They even say the Mordaunts are of a high family at home. 
Mary Wallace told me that Herman Mordaunt and Sir Henry 
Bulstrode are themselves related ; and you know, my dear, how 
intimate the Mordaunts and the AVallaces are ?" 

" Not I ; — I know nothing of their intimacies, though I dare 
say it may be all true. Mordaunt's father was an English gen- 
tleman of some family, I have always heard, though he was as 



128 SATANSTOE. 

poor as a cliurcli-mouse when lie married one of our Dutch 
heiresses ; and as for Herman Mordaunt himself, he proved he 
had not lost the instinct by marrying another, though she did 
not happen to be Dutch. Here comes Anneke to inherit it all, 
and I'll answer for it that care is had that she shall marry an 
heir." 

"Well, Mr. Bulstrode is an heir, and the eldest son of a 
baronet. I am always pleased when one of our girls makes a 
good connection at home, for it does the colony credit. It is 
an excellent thing, Corny, to have our interest well sustained at 
home — especially before the Privy Council, they tell me." 

"Well, I am not," answered my uncle. " I think it more 
to the credit of the colony for its young women to take up with 
its young men, and its young men with its young women. I 
Avish Anne Mordaunt had been substituted for the Honorable 
Lallyshannon to-night. She would have made a thousand 
times better * virtuous Marcia.' " 

"You surely would not have had a young lady of respecta- 
bility appear in public, in this way, Mr. Legge." 

My uncle said something to this, for he seldom let " Jane" 
get the better of it for want of an answer ; but as I left the box, 
I did not hear his reply. It seemed then to be settled, in the 
minds of most persons, that Bulstrode was to marry Anneke ! 
I cannot describe the new shock this opinion gave me ; but it 
seemed to make me more fully sensible of the depth of the 
impression that had been made on myself, in the intercourse of 
a single week. The effect was such that I did not return to 
the party I had left, but sought a scat in a distant part of the 
theatre, though one in which I could distinctly see those I had 
abandoned. 

The Beau's Stratagem soon commenced, and Bulstrode was 
again seen in the character of Scrub. Those who were most 
familiar with the stage, pronounced his playing to be excellent 
— far better in the footman than in the Roman Senator. The 
play itself struck me as being as broad and coarse as could be 
tolerated ; but as it had a reputation at home, where it had a 



SATAN STOE. 129 

great name, our matrons did not dare to object to it. I was 
glad to see the smiles soon disappear from Anneke's face, how- 
ever, and to discover that she fomid no pleasure in scenes so 
unsuited to her sex and years. The short, quick glances that 
were exchanged between Anneke and Mary Wallace, did not 
escape me, and the manner in which they both rose, as soon as 
the curtain dropped, told quite plainly the haste they were in to 
quit the theatre. I reached their box-door in time to assist 
them through the crowd. 

Not a word was said by any of us, until we reached the 
street, where two or three of Miss Mordaunt's female friends 
became loud in the expression of their satisfaction. Neither 
Anneke nor Mary Wallace said any thing, and so well did I un- 
derstand the nature of their feelings, that I made no allusion 
whatever to the farce. As for the others, they did but chime 
in with what appeared to be the common opinion, and were to 
be pitied rather than condemned. It was perhaps the more 
excusable in them to imagine such a play right, inasmuch as 
they must have known it was much extolled at home, a fact that 
gave any custom a certain privilege in the colonies. A mother 
country has much of the same responsibility as a natural 
mother, herself, since its opinions and example are apt to be 
quoted in the one case by the dependent, in justification of its 
own opinions and conduct, as it is by the natural offspring in 
the other. 

I fancy, notwithstanding, this sort of responsibility gives the 
ministers or people of England very little trouble, since I never 
could discover any sensitiveness to their duties on this score. 
We all went in at Herman Mordaunt's, after walking to the 
house as we had walked from it, and were made to take a light 
supper, including some delicious chocolate. Just as we sat 
down to table, Bulstrode joined us, to receive the praises he had 
earned, and to enjoy his triumph. He got a seat directly oppo- 
site to mine, on Anneke's left hand, and soon began to con- 
verse, 

" In the first place,'' he cried, " you must all admit that 



130 SATANSTOE. 

Tom Han-is did wonders to-night, as Miss Marcia Cato. I had 
my own trouble Avith the rogue, for there is no precedent for a 
tipsy Marcia ; but we managed to keep him straight, and tliat 
Avas the nicest part of my management, let me assure you." 

" Yes," observ^ed Herman Mordaunt, dryly ; " I should think 
keeping Tom Harris straight, after dinner, an exploit 8>f no little 
difficulty, but a task that would demand a very judicious man- 
agement, indeed." 

"You Avere pleased to express your satisfaction Avith the per- 
formance of Cato, Miss Mordaunt," said Bulstrode, in a very 
deferential and solicitous manner; "but I question if the enter- 
tainment gave you as much pleasure?" 

"It certainly did not. Had the representation ended with 
the first piece, I am afraid I should too much regret that we arc 
without a regular stage ; but the farce will take off much of 
the keenness of such regrets." 

" I fear I understand you, cousin Anne, and greatly regret 
that we did not make another choice," returned Bulstrode, with 
a humility that w^as not usual in his manner, even Avhen address- 
ing. Anneke Mordaunt; but I can assure you the play has great 
vogue at home ; and the character of Scrub, in particular, haa 
usually been a prodigious favorite. I see by your look, how- 
ever, that enough has been said ; but after having done so much 
to amuse this good company to-night, I shall feel authorized to 
call on every lady present, at least for a song, as soon as the 
proper moment arrives. Perhaps I have a right to add, a sen- 
timent, and a toast." 

And songs, and toasts, and sentiments, we had as usual, the 
moment we had done eating. It was, and indeed is, rather 
more usual to indulge in this innocent gayety after supper 
than after dinner, with us ; and that night every body entered 
into the feeling of the moment with spirit. Herman Mordaunt 
gave " Miss Markham," as he had done at dinner, and this 
with an air so determined, as to prove no one else Avould ever 
be got out of him. 

"There is a compact between Miss Markham and myself, to 



SATANSTOE. 131 

toast each oilier for the remainder of our lives," cried the mas- 
ter of the house, laughing; "and we arc each too honest ever 
to violate it." 

"But Miss Mordaunt is under no such engagement," put in 
a certain Mr. Benson, who had manifested much interest in the 
beautiful young mistress of the house throughout the day ; and 
I trust we shall not be put off by any such excuse from her." 

" It is not in rule to ask two of the same race for toasts in 
succession," answered Herman Mordaunt; "there is Mr. Bul- 
strode dying to give us another English belle." 

*' With all my heart," said Bulstrode, gayly. " This time it 
shall be Lady Betty Boddington." 

"Married or single, Bulstrode?" inquired Billings, as I 
thought with some little point. 

" No matter which, so long as she be a beauty and a toast. 
I believe it is now my privilege to call on a lady, and I beg a 
gentleman from Miss Wallace." 

There had been an expression of pained surprise, at the tri- 
fling between Billings and Bulstrode, in Annete's sweet coun- 
tenance ; for, in the simplicity of our provincial habits, we of 
the colonies did not think it exactly in rule for the single to 
toast the married, or vice versa; but the instant her friend was 
thus called on, it changed to a look of gentle concern. Mary 
Wallace manifested no concern, but gave "Mr. Francis Ford- 
ham." 

"Ay, Frank Fordham with all my heart," cried Herman 
Mordaunt. " I hope he will return to his native country as 
straightforward, honest, and good as he left it." 

"Mr. Fordham is then abroad?" inquired Bulstrode. "I 
thought the name new to me." 

" If being at home can be called being abroad. He is read- 
ing law at the Temple." 

This was the answer of Mary Wallace, who looked as if she 
felt a friendly interest in the young Templar, but no more. 
She now called on Dirck for his lady. Throughout the Avliole 
of that day, Dirck's voice had hardly been heard ; a reserve 



132 SATANSTOE. 

that comported well enougli -witli liis age and established diffi- 
dence. This appeal, however, seemed suddenly to arouse all 
that there was of manhood in him ; and that was not a little, I 
can tell the reader, when there was occasion to use it. Dirck's 
nature was honesty itself; and he felt the appeal too direct, 
and the occasion too serious, to admit of duplicity. He loved 
but one, esteemed but one, felt for one only ; and it was not in 
his nature to cover his preference by any attempt at deception. 
After coloring to the ears, appearing distressed, he made an 
effort, and pronounced the name of — "Anneke Mordaunt." 

A common laugh rewarded this blunder ; common with all 
but the fair creature who had extorted this involuntary tribute, 
and myself, who knew Dirck's character too well not to under- 
stand how very much he must be in earnest thus to lay bare 
the most cherished secret of his heart. The mirth continued 
for some time, Herman Mordaunt appearing to be particularly 
pleased, and applauding his kinsman's directness with several 
" bravos" very distinctly uttered. As for Anneke, I saw she 
looked touched, while she looked concerned, and as if she would 
be glad to have the thing undone. 

" After all, Dirck, much as I admire your spirit and plain 
dealing, boy," cried Hennan Mordaunt, " Miss Wallace can 
never let such a toast pass. She will insist on having anothei." 

" I ! — I protest I am well pleased with it, and ask for no 
other," exclaimed the lady in question. " No toast can be 
more agreeable to me than Anneke Mordaunt, and I particularly 
like the quarter from which this comes." 

" If friends can be trusted in a matter of this nature," put in 
Bulstrode, with a little pique, " Mr. Pollock has every reason . 
to be contented. Had I known, however, that the customs of 
New York allowed a lady who is present to be toasted, that 
gentleman would not have had the merit of being the first to 
make this discovery." 

"Nor is it," said Herman Mordaunt; "and Dirck must 
hunt up another to supply my daughter's place." 

But no other was forthcoming from the stores of Dirck 



SATANSTOE. 133 

FoUock's mind. Had lie a dozen names in reserve, not one of 
them would lie liave produced under circumstances that might 
seem like denying his allegiance to the girl already given ; but 
he could not name any other female. So, after some trifling, 
the company attributing Dirck's hesitation to his youth and 
ignorance of the world, abandoned the attempt, desiring him to 
call on Anneke herself for a toast in turn. 

" Cousin Dirck Van Valkenburgh," said Anneke, with the 
greater self-possession and ease of her sex, though actually my 
friend's junior by more than two years ; laying some emphasis, 
at the same time, on the word cousin. 

" There !" exclaimed Dirck, looking exultingly at Bulstrode ; 
" you see, gentlemen and ladies, that it is permitted to toast a 
person present, if you happen to respect and esteem that per- 
son !" 

" By which, sir, we are to understand how much Miss Mor- 
daunt respects and esteems Mr, Dirck Van Valkenburgh," 
answered Bulstrode gravely. " I am afraid there is only too 
much justice in an opinion that might, at the first blush, seem 
to savor of self-love." 

"An imputation I am far from denying," returned Anneke, 
with a steadiness that showed wonderful self-command, did she 
really return any of Dirck's attachment. " My kinsman gives 
me as his toast, and I give him as mine. Is there any thing 
unnatural in that?" 

Here there was an outbreak of raillery at Anneke' s expense, 
which the young lady bore with a calmness and composure that 
at first astonished me. But when I came to reflect that she 
had been virtually at the head of her father's house for several 
years, and that she had always associated with persons older 
than herself, it appeared more natural ; for it is certain we can 
either advance or retard the character by throwing a person into 
intimate association with those who, by their own conversation, 
manners, or acquirements, are most adapted for doing either. 
In a few minutes the interruption was forgotten by those who 
had no interest in tlic subject, and tlic singing commenced. 1 



134 8ATANSTOE. 

had obtained so much credit by my attempt at dinner, that I 
had the extreme gratification of being asked to sing another 
song by Anneke herself. Of course I complied, and I thought 
the company seemed pleased. As for my young hostess, I 
knew she looked more gratified -with my song than with the 
afterpiece, and that I felt to be something. Dirck had an 
occasion to renew a little of the ground lost by the toast, for he 
sang a capital comic song in low Dutch. It is true, not half 
the party understood him, but the other half laughed until the 
tears rolled down their cheeks, and there was something so 
droll in my friend's manner, that every body was delighted. 
The clocks struck twelve before we broke up. 

I staid in town but a day or two longer, meeting my new 
acquaintances every day, and sometimes twice a-day, however, 
on Trinity Church walk. I paid visits of leave-taking with a 
heavy heart, and most of all to Anneke and her father. 

"I understood from Follock, " said Herman Mordaunt, when 
I explained the object of my call, "that you are to leave tovra 
to-morrow. Miss Mordaunt and her friend. Miss Wallace, go 
to Lilacsbush this afternoon ; for it is high time to look after 
the garden and the flowers, many of which are now in full 
bloom. I shall join them in the evening ; and I propose that 
you young men, take a late breakfast with us, on your way to 
Westchester. A cup of coffee before you start, and getting 
into your saddle at six, will bring all right. I promise you that 
you shall be on the road again by one, which will give you 
plenty of time to reach Satanstoe before dark." 

I looked at Anneke, and fancied that the expression of her 
countenance was favorable. Dirck left every thing to me, and , 
I accepted the invitation. This arrangement shortened my 
visit in Crown street, and I left the house with a lighter heart 
than that with which I had entered it. It is always so agreeable 
to get an unpleasant duty deferred ! 

Next day Dirck and I were in the saddle at six precisely, 
and we rode through the streets just as the blacks were washing 
down their stoops and side- walks ; though there were but very 



SATANSTOE. 135 

few of the last, iL my youtli. This is a commodious improve- 
ment, and one that it is not easy to see how the Ladies could 
dispense with, and which is noAV getting to he pretty com- 
mon ; all the new streets, I sec, being provided with the con- 
venience. 

It was a fine May morning, and the air was full of the sweet 
fragrance of the lilac, in particular, as we rode into the country. 
Just as we got into the Bowery lane, a horseman was seen 
walking out of one of the by-streets, and coming our way. He 
no sooner caught sight of two travellers going in his own direc- 
tion, than he spurred forward to join us ; being alone, and prob- 
ably wishing company. As it would have been churlish to 
refuse to travel in company with one thus situated, we pulled 
up, walking our horses until the stranger joined us; when, to 
our surprise, it turned out to be Jason Newcome. The peda- 
gogue was as much astonished when he recognised us, as we 
were in recognizing him ; and I believe he was a little disap- 
pointed ; for Jason was so fond of making acquaintances, that 
it was always a pleasure to him to be thus employed. It ap- 
peared that he had been down on the island to visit a relative, 
who had married and settled in that quarter ; and this was the 
reason we had not met since the morning of the affair of the 
lion. Of course we trotted on together, neither glad nor sorry 
at having this particular companion. 

I never could explain the process by means of which Jason 
wound his way into every body's secrets. It is true he had no 
scruples about asking questions; putting those which most 
persons would think forbidden by the usages of society, with as 
little hesitation as those which are universally permitted. The 
people of New England have a reputation this way ; and I re- 
member to have heard Mr. Worden account for the practice in 
the following way : every thing and every body were brought 
under rigid church government among the Puritans ; and, 
when a whole community gets the notion that it is to sit in 
judgment on every act of one of its members, it is quite natural 
that it should extend that right to an inquiry into all his aflairs. 



136 SATAN ST OE. 

One tiling is certain ; our neiglibors of Connecticut do assume 
a control over the acts and opinions of individuals that is not 
dreamed of in New York ; and I think it very likely that the 
practice of pushing inquiry into private things, has grown up 
under this custom. 

As one might suppose, Jason, whenever baffled in an attempt 
to obtain knowledge by means of inquiries, more or less direct, 
sought to advance his ends through conjectures ; taking those 
that were the most plausible, if any such could be found, but 
putting up with those that had not even this questionable rec- 
ommendation, if nothing better oftered. He was, consequently, 
forever falling into the grossest errors, for, necessarily making 
his conclusions on premises drawn from his own ignorance and 
inexperience, he was liable to fall into serious mistakes at the 
very outset. Nor was this the worst ; the tendency of human 
nature not being very directly to charity, the harshest construc- 
tions were sometimes blended with the most absurd blunders, 
in his mind, and I have known him to be often guilty of asser- 
tions that had no better foundation than these conjectures, 
which might have subjected him to severe legal penalties. 

On the present occasion, Jason was not long in ascertaining 
where we were bound. This was done in a manner so charac- 
teristic and ingenious, that I will attempt to relate it. 

"Why, you're out earlj^, this morning, gentlemen!" ex- 
claimed Jason, affecting surprise. " What in natur' has started 
you off before breakfast?" 

"So as to be certain not to lose our suppers at Satanstoe, this 
evening," I answered. 

"Suppers? why, you will almost reach home (Jason wo^ild 
call this word hum) by dinner-time ; that is, your York dinner- 
time. Perhaps you mean to call by the way 2" 

" Perhaps we do, Mr. Newcome ; there are many pleasant 
families between this and Satanstoe." 

"I know there be. There's the great Mr. Van Cortlandt'a 
at Yonker's ; perhaps you mean to stop there ?" 

"No, sir; we have no sucli intention." 



SATANSTOE. 



137 



"Then there's the rich Count Philips' s, on the river; that 
would be uo great matter out of the way ?" 

"It's farther than we intend to turn." 

" Oh ! so you do intend to turn a bit aside ; Well, there's 
that Mr. Mordaunt, whose daughter you pulled out of the 
lion's paws ; — he has a house near Kingsbridge, called Lilacs- 
bush." 

" And how did you ascertain that, Jason?" 

" By asking. Do you think I would let such a thing happen, 
and not inquire a little about the young lady ? Nothing is ever 
lost by putting a few questions, and inquiring round ; and I did 
not forget the rule in her case." 

" And you ascertained that the young lady's father has a 
place called Lilacsbush, in this neighborhood?" 

"I did; and a queer York fashion it is to give a house a 
name, just as you would a Christian being ; that must be a 
Roman Catholic custom, and some way connected with idol- 
atry." 

"Out of all doubt. It is far better to say, for instance, that 
we are going to breakfast at Mr, Mordaunt' s-es-es, than to say 
we intend to stoj) at Lilacsbush." » 

"Oh! you be, be you? Well, I thought it would turn out 
that some such place must have started you off so early. It will 
be a desperate late breakfast, Corny!" 

" It will be at ten o'clock, Jason, and that is rather later than 
common ; but our appetites will be so much the better." 

To this Jason assented, and then commenced a series of 
manoeuvres to be included in the party. This we did not dare 
to do, however, and all Jason's hints were disregarded, until, 
growing desperate by our evasions, he plumply proposed to go 
along, and we as plumply told him we would take no such Ub- 
erty with a man of Herman Mordaunt's years, position and 
character. I do not know that we should have hesitated so 
much had we considered Jason a gentleman, but this was im- 
possible. The custom of the colony admitted of great freedom 
in this respect, being very different from what it is at home, by 



138 SATAN STOE. 

all accounts, in these particulars ; but there was always an un- 
derstanding that the persons one brought with him should be 
of a certain stamp and class in life ; recommendations to which 
Jason Newcome certainly had no claim. 

This case was getting to be a little embarrassing when the 
appearance of Herman Mordaunt himself, fortunately removed 
the diflSculty. Jason Avas not a man to be thrown off very 
easily ; but here was one who had the power, and who showed 
the disposition to set things right. Ilerman Mordaunt had rid- 
den down the road a mile or two to meet us, intending to lead 
us by a private and a shorter way to his residence, than that 
which was already known to us. He no sooner saw that Jason 
was of our company, than he asked that as a favor, which our 
companion would very gladly have accepted as a boon. 



8ATANST0E. 139 



CnAPTER IX. 

•' I qucstion'd Love, ■whose early r.iy 
So heavenly bright appears ; 
And Love, in answer, seem'd to say. 
Ills light was dimm'd by tears." 

IlEBaB. 

It was not .ong after the explanation occurred, as respects 
Jason, and the invitation was given to include him in our party, 
before Herman Mordaunt opened a gate, and led the way into 
the fields. A very tolerable road conducted us through some 
woods, to the heights, and we soon found ourselves on an emi- 
nence, that overlooked a long reach of the Hudson, extending 
from Havcrstraw to the north, as far as Staten Island to the 
south ; a distance of near forty miles. On the opposite shore, 
rose the wall-like barrier of the Palisadoes, lifting the table- 
land on their summits to an elevation of several hundred feet. 
The noble river itself, fully three-quarters of a mile in width, 
was unruffled by a -breath of air, lying in one single, extended, 
placid sheet, under the rays of a bright sun, resembling molten 
silver. I scarce remember a lovelier morning ; every thing ap- 
peared to harmonize with the glorious but tranquil grandeur of 
the view, and the rich promises of a bountiful nature. The 
trees were mostly cove, ed with a beautiful clothing of a young 
verdure ; the birds had mated, and were building in nearly every 
tree ; the wild-flowers started up beneath the hoofs of our 
horses ; and every object, far and near, seemed, to my young 
eyes, to be attuned to harmony and love. 

" This is a favorite ride of mine, in which Anneke often ac- 
companies me," said Herman Mordaunt, as we gained the com- 
manding eminence I have mentioned. " My daughter is a 
spirited horsewoman, and is often my companion in these morn- 



140 SATAN STOE. 

ing rides. She and Mary Wallace sliould be soraewlicre on the 
hills, at this moment, for they promised to follow me, as soon 
as they could dress for the saddle." 

A cry of something like Avild delight burst out of Dirck, and 
the next moment he was galloping away for an adjoining ridge, 
on the top of which the beautiful forms of the two girls were 
just then visible ; embellished by neatly-fitting habits, and bea- 
vers with drooping feathers. I pointed out these charming 
objects to Herman Mordaunt, and followed my friend, at half- 
speed. In a minute or two the parties had joined. 

Never had I seen Anneke Mordaunt so perfectly lovely as 
she appeared that morning. The exercise and air had deepened 
a bloom that was always rich ; and her eyes received new lustre 
from the glow on her cheeks. Though expected, I thought 
she received us as particularly acceptable guests ; while Mary 
Wallace manifested more than a usual degree of animation 
in her reception. Jason was not forgotten, but was acknowl- 
edged as an old acquaintance, and was properly introduced to 
the friend. 

" You frequently take these rides, Mr. Mordaunt tells me," I 
said, reining my horse to the side of that of Anneke's, as the 
whole party moved on ; " and I regret that Satanstoe is so dis- 
tant, as to prevent our oftener meeting of a morning. We have 
many noted horsewomen, in Westchester, who would be proud 
of such an acquisition." 

"I know several ladies, on your side of Ilarlem River," An- 
neke answered, ^ji' and frequently ride in their company ; but 
none so distant as any in your immediate neighborhood. My 
father tells mc, he used often to shoot over the fields of Satans- 
toe, when a youth ; and still speaks of your birds with great 
affection." 

" I believe our fathers were once brother sportsmen. Mr. 
Bulstrode has promised to conic and imitate their good exam- 
ple. Now you have had time to reflect on the plays you have 
seen, do you still feel the same interest in such representations 
as at first?" 



SATANSTOE. 141 

" I only wisli there ^yas not so much to condemn. I think 
Mr. Bulstrode might have reached eminence as a player, had 
not fortune put it, in one sense, beyond his reach, as an elder 
son, and a man of family." 

" Mr. Bulstrode, they tell me, is not only the heir of an old 
baronetcy, but of a large fortune ?" 

" Such are the facts, I believe. Do you not think it credit- 
able to him, Mr. Littlepage, that one so situated, should come 
so far to serve his king and country, in a rude war like this of 
our colonies ?" 

I was obliged to assent, though I heartily wished that An- 
neke's manner had been less animated and sincere, as she put 
the question. Still, I hardly knew what to think of her feelings 
toward that gentleman ; for, otherwise, she always heard him 
named with a calmness and self-possession that I had observed 
was not shared by all her young companions, when there was 
occasion to allude to the gay and insinuating soldier. I need 
scarcely say, it was no disadvantage to Mr. Bulstrode to be the 
lieir of a baronetcy, in an English colony. Somehow or other, 
we are a little apt to magnify such accidental superiority, at a 
distance from home ; and I have heard Englishmen them- 
selves acknowledge that a baronet was a gi'eater man in New 
York, than a duke was in London. These were things that 
passed through my mind as I rode along at Anneke's side ; 
though I had the discretion not to give utterance to my 
thoughts. 

"Herman Mordaunt rode in advance, w^ Jason; and he 
led the party, by pretty bridle-paths, along the heights for nearly 
two miles, occasionally opening a gate, without dismounting, 
until he reached a point that overlooked Lilacsbush, which was 
soon seen, distant from us icss than half a mile. 

"Here we are, on my own domain," he said, as he pulled 

up to let us join him; " that last gate separating me from my 

nearest neighbor south. These hills are of no great use, except 

as early pastures, though they afford many beautiful views." 

"I have heard it predicted," I remarked, "that the tinio 



142 SATANSTOE. 

would come, some day, wlien the banks of tlie Hudson would 
contain many such seats as that of the Philipses, at Yonkers, 
and one or two more like it, that I am told are now standing 
above the Highlands." 

" Quite possibly ; it is not easy to foretell what may come 
to pass in such a country. I dare say, that in time, both towns 
and seats will be seen on the banks of the Hudson, and a power- 
fill and numerous nobiUty to occupy the last. By the way, Mr. 
Littlepage, your father and my friend Colonel FoUock have 
been making a valuable acquisition in lands, I hear; having 
obtained a patent for an extensive estate, somewhere in the 
neighborhood of Albany?" 

" It is not so very extensive, sir, there being only some forty 
thousand acres of it, altogether ; nor is it very near Albany, 
by what I can learn, since it must lie at a distance of some forty 
miles, or more, from that town. Next winter, however, Dirck 
and myself are to go in search of the land, when we shall learn 
all about it." 

" Then we may meet in that quarter of the country. I have 
affairs of importance at Albany, which have been too long 
neglected ; and it has been my intention to pass some months 
at the north, next season, and early in the season, too. We 
may possibly meet in the woods." 

" You have been at Albany, I suppose, Mr. Mordaunt?" 

" Quite often, sir ; the distance is so great, that one has not 
much inducement to go there, unless carried by afiairs, how- 
ever, as has beeiypiy case. I was at Albany before my mar- 
riage, and have had various occasions to visit it since." 

" My father was there, when a soldier; and he tells me it is 
a part of the province well worth seeing. At all events, I shall 
encounter the risk and fatigue next season ; for it is useful to 
young persons to see the world. Dirck and myself may make 
the campaign, should there be one in that direction." 

I fancied Anneke manifested some interest in this conver- 
sation ; but we rode on, and soon alighted at the door of 
Lilacsbush. Bulstrode was not in the way, and I had the su- 



SATANSTOE. 143 

prcme pleasure of helping Miss Mordaunt to aliglit, wlien we 
paused a moment before entering tlie house, to examine the 
view. I have given the reader some idea of the general ap- 
pearance of the place ; but it was necessary to approach it, in 
order to form a just conception of its beauties. As its name 
indicated, the lawn, house, and out-buildings were all garnished 
or buried in Hlacs, the whole of which were then in full blossom. 
The flowers filled the air with a species of purple light, that cast 
a wann and soft radiance even on the glowing face of Anneke, 
as she pointed out to me the magical effect. I know no flower 
that does so much to embellish a place as the lilac, on a large 
scale, common as it is, and familiar as we have become with its 
hues and its fragrance. 

"We enjoy the month our lilacs are out, beyond any month 
in the year," said Anneke, smiling at my surprise and delight ; 
" and we make it a point to pass most of it here. You will at 
least own, Mr. Littlepage, that Lilacsbush is properly named." 

" The effect is more like enchantment than any thing else !" 
I cried. " I did not know that the simple, modest lilac could 
render any thing so very beautiful !" 

"Simplicity and modesty are such charrns in themselves, sir, 
as to be potent allies," observed the sensible but taciturn Mary 
Wallace. 

To this I assented, of course, and we all followed Mr. Mor- 
• daunt into the house. I was as much delighted with the ap- 
pearance of things in the interior of Lilacsbush, as I had been 
with the exterior. Everywhere, it seemed tp cae, I met with 
the signs of Anneke' s taste and skill. I do not wish the reader 
to suppose that the residence itself was of the very first charac- 
ter and class, for this it could not lay claim to be. Still, it was 
one of those staid, story-and-a-half dwellings, in which most of 
our first families were, and are content to dwell, in the country ; 
very much resembling the good old habitation at Satanstoe in 
these particulars. The furniture, however, was of a higher 
town-finish than we found it necessary to use; and the little 
parlor in which we breakfasted waj i model for an eating-room. 



144 SATANSTOE. 

The buflfets in the corners were so well polished that one might 
see his face in them ; the cellarets were ornamented with plated 
hinges, locks, etc., and the table itself shone like a mirror. I 
know not how it was, but the china appeared to me richer and 
neater than common under Anneke's pretty little hand ; while 
the massive and highly-finished plate of the breakfast service, 
was such as could be Avrought only in England. In a word, 
while every thing appeared rich and respectable, there was a 
certain indescribable air of comfort, gentility, and neatness 
about the whole, that impressed me in an unusual manner. 

" Mr. Littlepage tells me, Anneke," observed Herman Mor- 
daunt, while we were at breakfast, "that he intends to make a 
journey to the north, next Avinter, and it may be our good for- 
tune to meet him there. The th expects to be ordered up 

as high as Albany, this summer ; and we may all renew our 
songs and jests, Avith Bulstrodc and his gay companions, among 
the Dutchmen. 

I was charmed with this prospect of meeting Anneke Mor- 
daunt at the north, and took occasion to say as much ; thougli 
I was afraid it was in an awkward and confused manner. 

" I heard as much as this, sir, while we were riding," an- 
swered the daughter. " I hope cousin Dirck is to be of the 
party ?" 

Cousin Dirck assured her he was, and we discussed in antici- 
pation the pleasure it must give to old acquaintances to meet so 
far from home. Not one of us, Herman Mordaunt excepted, 
had ever been one hundred miles from his or her birthplace, as 
was ascertained on comparing notes. I was the greatest travel- 
ler ; Princeton lying between eighty and ninety miles from 
Satanstoe, as the road goes. 

" Perhaps I come nearer to it than any of you," put in 
Jason, "for my late journey on the island must have carried 
me nearly that far from Danbury. But, ladies, I can assure 
you, a travellei has many opportunities for learning useful things, 
as I know by the difference there is between York and Connec- 
ticut." 



SATAN STOE. 145 

"And wliicli do you prefer, Mr. Newcome?" asked Aniiekc, 
with a somcwliat comical expression about lier laugliing eyes. 

"That is hardly a fair question, Miss;" no reproof could 
break Jason of this vulgarism, " since it might make enemies 
for a body to speak all of his mind in such matters. There are 
comparisons that should never be made, on account of circum- 
stances that oveiTule all common efforts. New York is a great 
colony — a very great colony, Miss ; but it was once Dutch, as 
every body knows, begging Mr. Follock's pardon ; and it must 
be confessed Connecticut has, from the first, enjoyed almost 
unheard-of advantages, in the moral and religious character of 
her people, the excellence of her lands, and the purity" — Jason 
called this word "poority ;" but that did not alter the senti- 
ment — though I must say, once for all, it is out of my power to 
spell every word as this man saw fit to pronounce it — " of her 
people and church," 

Herman Mordaunt looked up with surprise, at this speech ; 
but Dirck and I had heard so many like it, that we saw noth- 
ing out of the way on this particular occasion. As for the 
ladies, they were too well-bred to glance at each other, as girls 
sometimes will ; but I could see that each thought the speaker 
a very singular person. 

"You find, then, a difierence in customs between the two 
colonies, sir?" said Herman Mordaunt 

" A vast difference truly, sir. Now there was a little thing 
happened about your daughter, 'Squire Mordaunt, the very first 
lime I saw her" — the present was the second interview — "that 
could no more have happened in Connecticut, than the whole 
of the province could be put into that teacup." 

" To my daughter, Mr. Newcome !" 

" Yes, sir, to your own daughter ; Miss, that sits there look- 
ing as innocent as if it had never come to pass." 

"This is so extraordinary, sir, that I must beg an explana- 
tion." 

" You may well call it extr'ornary, for extr'ornary it would 
be called all over Connecticut ; and I'll never give up that York, 
7 



146 SATANSTOE. 

if tliis be a York \isage, is or can be rigbt in snob a matter, at 
least." 

"I entreat yon to bo more explicit, Mr. Newcomc." 

"Why, sir, you must know, Corny, here, and I, and DircTc 
there, went in to see the lion, about which no doubt you've 
heard so much, and Corny paid for Miss's ticket. Well, that 
was all right enough, but — " 

" Surely, Anneke, you have not forgotten to return to Mr. 
Littlepagc the money !" 

" Listen patiently, my dear sir, and you will get the whole 
story, my delinquencies and debts included, if any there 
are." 

" That's just what she did, 'Squire Mordaunt, and I maintain 
there is not the man in all Connecticut that would have taken it. 
If the ladies can't be treated to sights, and other amusements, I 
should like to know who is to be so." 

Ilerman Mordaunt, at first, looked gravely at the speaker, but 
catching the expression of our eyes he answered with the tact 
of a perfectly well-bred man, as he certainly Avas, on all occa- 
sions that put him to the proof — 

" You must overlook Miss Mordaunt's adhering to her own 
customs, Mr. Ncwcome, on account of her youth, and her little 
knowledge of any world but that immediately around her. 
When she has enjoyed an opportunity of visiting Danbuiy, no 
doubt she will improve by the occasion." 

" But, Corny, sir — think of Corny's falling into such a mis- 
take !" 

"As for Mr. Littlepagc, I must suppose he labors under 
somewhat of the same disadvantage. We are less gallant here 
than you happen to be in Connecticut ; hence our inferiority. 
At some future day, perhaps, when society shall have made a 
greater progress among us, our youths will come to see the im- 
propriety of permitting the fair sex to pay for any thing, even 
their own ribbons. I have long known, sir, that you of New 
England claim to treat your women better than they are treated 
in any other portion of the inhabited world, and it must be 



SATAN STOE, 



147 



owing to that circumstance that tlicy enjoy the advanlago of 
beino; 'treated' for nothinof." 

Witli this concession Jason was apparently content. How 
much of this provincial feehng, arising from provincial ignor- 
ance, have I seen since that time ! It is certain that our fellow 
subjects of the eastern provinces are not addicted to hiding 
their lights under bushels, but make the most of all their advan- 
tages. That they are superior to us of York, in some respects, 
I am willing enough to allow ; but there are certainly points on 
which this superiority is far less apparent. As for Jason, he 
•was entirely satisfied with the answer of Herman Mordaunt, 
and often alluded to the subject afterward, to my prejudice, 
and with great self-complacency. To be sure, it is a hard lesson 
to beat into the head of the self-sufficient colonist, that his own 
little corner of the earth does not contain all that is right, and 
just, and good, and refined. 

I left Lilacsbush, that day, deeply in love. I hold it to be 
unmanly to attempt to conceal it. Anneke had made a lively 
impression on me from the very first, but that impression had 
now gone deeper than the imagination, and had very sensibly 
touched the heart. Perhaps it was necessary to see her in the 
retirement of the purely domestic circle, to give all her charms 
their just ascendency. While in town, I had usually met her 
in crowds, surrounded by admirers or other young persons of 
her own sex, and there was less opportunity for viewing the in- 
fluence of nature and the afi"ections on her manner. With 
Mary Wallace at her side, however, there was always one on 
whom she could exhibit just enough of these feelings to bring 
out the loveliness of her nature without effort or affectation. 
Anne Mordaunt never spoke to her friend without a change ap- 
pearing in her manner. Afibction thrilled in the tones of her 
voice, confidence beamed in her eye, and esteem and respect 
were to be gathered from the expectation and deference that 
shone in her countenance. Mary Wallace was two years tho 
oldest, and these years taken in connection with her character, 
entitled her to receive this tribute from her nearest associate ; 



148 SATANSTOE. 

lint all these feelings flowed spontaneously from the heart, for 
never was an intercourse between two of the sex more thoroii;j;l\- 
ly free from acting. 

It was proof that passion was getting the mastery over me, 
that I now forgot Dirck, his obvious attachment, older claims, 
and possible success. I know not how it was, or why it was, 
but it was certain that Herman Mordaunt had a great regard 
for Dirck Van Valkenburgh. The aflBnity may have counted 
for something, and it was possible that the father was already 
weiirhinir the advantacres that might accrue from such a connec- 
tion. Colonel FoUock had the reputation of being rich, as 
riches were then counted among us ; and the young fellow him- 
self, in addition to a fine manly figure, that was fast developing 
itself into the frame of a youthful Hercules, had an excellent 
temper, and a good reputation. Still, this idea never troubled 
me. Of Dirck I had no fears, while Bulstrode gave me great 
uneasiness, from the first. I saw all his advantages, may have 
even magnified them ; while those of my near and immediate 
friend, gave me no trouble whatever. It is possible, had Dirck 
presented himself oftener, or more distinctly to my mind, a 
feeling of magnanimity might have induced me to withdraw in 
time, and leave him a field to which he had the earliest claim. 
But after the morning at Lilacsbush, it was too late for any 
such sacrifice on my part ; and I rode away from the house, at 
the side of my friend, as forgetful of his interest in Anneke, as 
if he had never felt any. Magnanimity and I had no further 
connection in relation to my pretensions to Anneke MordaUnt. 

"Well," continued Jason, as soon as we were fairly in the 
saddle, " these Mordaunts are even a notch above your folks, 
Corny ? There was more silver vessels in that room where we 
ate, than there is at this moment in all Danbury ! The extrava- 
gance amounts to waste. The old gentleman must be desperate 
rich, Dirck?" 

"Herman Mordaunt has a good estate, and very little of it 
has gone for plate, Jason ; that which you saw is old, and came 
either from Holland, or England ; one home, or the other." 



SATANSTOE. 140 

"Oh! IloUund is no liomo for rac, boy. Depend on it, all 
tluit plate is not put tliere^ for nothing. If the truth could be 
come at, this Herman Mordaunt, as you call him, though I do not 
see why you cannot call him Squire Mordaunt, like other folks, 
but this Mr. Mordaunt has some notion, I conclude, to get his 
daughter off on one of these rich English officers, of whom 
there happen to be so many in the province, just at this time. 
I never saw the gentleman, but there was one Bulstrode named 
prett}^ often this forenoon" — Jason's morning always terminated 
at his usual breakfast-hour — "and I rather conclude he will 
turn out to be the chap, in the long run. Such is my calcula- 
tion, and they don't often fail." 

I saw a quick, surprised start in Dirck ; but I felt such a 
twinge myself, that there was little opportunity to inquire into 
the state of my friend's feelings, at this coarse, but unexpected 
remark. 

" Have you any particular reason, Mr. Newcomc, for ventur- 
ing such an opinion?" I asked, a little sternly. 

"Come, don't let us, out here in the highway, begin to 
mister one another. You are Corny, Dirck is Dirck, and I am 
Jason. The shortest way is commonly the best way, and I like 
yiven-names among friends. Have I any particular reason ? — 
Tes, plenty on 'em, and them that's good. In the first place, 
no man has a daughter" — darter a la Jason — "that he does 
not begin to think about setting her out in the world, accordin' 
to his abilities ; then, as I said before, these folks from home" 
(hum) "are awful rich, and rich husbands are always satisfactory 
to parents, whatever they may be to children. Besides, some 
of these officers will fall heirs to titles, and that is a desperate 
temptation to a woman, all over the world. I hardly think 
there is a young woman in Danbury, that could hold out agin' 
a real title." 

It has always struck me as singular, that the people of 
Jason's part of the provinces, should entertain so much pro- 
found respect for titles. No portion of the Avorld is of simpler 
habits, nor is it easy to find any civilized people among whom 



150 SATAN STOE. 

tLere is a greater equality of actual condition, -which, one would 
think, must necessarily induce equality of feeling, than in Con- 
necticut, at this very moment. Notwithstanding these facts, 
the love of title is so great, that even that of sergeant is often 
prefixed to the name of a man on his tombstone, or in the an- 
nouncement of his death or marriage ; and as for the militia 
ensigns and lieutenants, there is no end to them. Deacon is 
an important title, which is rarely omitted ; and woe betide the 
man wha should forget to call a magistrate "esquire," No 
such usages prevail among us ; or, if they do, it is among that 
portion of the people of this colony which is derived from New 
England, and still retains some of its customs. Then, in no 
part of the colonics is English rank more deferred to, than in 
New England, generally, notwithstanding most of those colo- 
nies possess the right to elect nearly every ofiiccr they have 
among them. I allow that we of New York defer greatly to 
men of birth and rank from home, and it is right we should so 
do ; but I do not think our deference is as great, or by any means 
as general, as it is in New England.* It is possible the influence 
of the Dutch may have left an impression on our state of society 
though I have been told that the colonies further south exhibit 

* As respects the love of titles that are derived from tho people, there is nothing 
opposed to strict republican, or if the reader will, democratic principles, since it is 
deferring to the power that appoints, and manifests a respect for that which the com- 
munity chooses to elevate. But the deference to English rank, mentioned by Mr. 
Littlepage, is undeniably greater among the mass in New England, than it is any- 
where else in this country, at this very moment. One leading New York paper, edited 
by New England men, during the last controversy about the indemnity to be paid by 
France, actually styled the Due de Broglie "his grace," like a Grub street cockney, 
— a mode of address that would astonish that respectable statesman, quite as much as 
it must have amused every man of the world who saw it. I have been much puz- 
zled to account for this peculiarity — unquestionably one that exists in tho countrj- — 
but have supposed it must be owing to the diffusion of information which carries in- 
telligence sufliciently far to acquaint the mass with leading social features, without 
going far enough to compensate for a provincial position and provincial habits. Per- 
haps the exclusively English origin of the people may have an influence. The writer 
has passed portions of two seasons in Switzerland, and excluding the small forest can- 
tons, he has no hesitation in saying that the habits and general notions of Connecticut 
ure more inherently democratical than those of any part of that country. Notwith- 
standing, ho thinks a noblcm.in, particularly an English nobleman, is a far greater 
man in New England, than ho is among tho real middle-state families of New York. 
— Editor. 



SATANSTOE. 151 

very much the same characteristics as v,o do ourselves on this 
head. 

"We reached Satanstoe a little late, iu consequence of the 
delay at Lilacsbush, and were welcomed with affection and 
warmth. My excellent mother was delighted to see me at home 
again, after so long an absence, and one which she did not 
think altogether without peril, when it was remembered that I 
had passed a whole fortm'ght amid the temptations and fascina- 
tions of the capital. I saw the tears in her eyes as she kissed 
me again and again, and felt the gentle, warm embrace, as she 
pressed me to her bosom, in maternal thanksgiving. 

Of course, I had to render an account of all I had seen and 
done, including Pinkster, the theatre, and the lion. I said 
nothing, however, of the Mordaunts, until questioned about 
them by my mother, quite a fortnight after Dirck had gone 
across to Rockland. One morning, as I sat endeavoring to 
write a sonnet in my own room, that excellent parent entered 
and took a seat near my table, with the familiarity the relation 
she bore me justified. She was knitting at the time, for never 
was she idle, except when asleep. I saw by the placid smile on 
her face, which, Heaven bless her ! was still smooth and hand- 
some, that something was on her mind, that was far from disa- 
greeable; and I waited with some curiosity for the opening. 
That excellent mother ! How completely did she live out of 
herself in all that had the most remote bearing on my future 
hopes and happiness ! 

"Finish your writing, my son," commenced my mother, for 
I had instinctively striven to conceal the sonnet ; "finish your 
writing; until you have done, I will be silent." 

" I have done, now, mother; 't was only a copy of verses I 
was endeavoring to write out — you know — that is — write out, 
you know." 

" I did not know you were a poet, Corny," returned my 
mother, smiling still more cr>mplaccntly, for it is something to 
be the parent of a poet. 

" I ! — I a poet, mother? — I'd sooner turn schoolmaster, than 



].52 8ATANST0E. 

turn poet. Yes, I'd sooner be Jason Newcome himself, than 
even suspect it possible I could be a poet." 

" Well, never mind ; people never turn poets, I fancy, with 
their eyes open. But what is this I hear of your having saved 
a beautiful young lady from the jaws of a lion, while you were 
in town ; and why was I left to learn all the particulars from Mr. 
Newcome ?" 

I believe my face was of the color of scarlet, for it felt as if 
it were on fire, and my mother smiled still more decidedly than 
ever. Speak ! I could not have spoken to be thus smiled on by 
Anneke. 

" There is nothing to be ashamed of. Corny, in rescuing a 
young lady from a lion, or in going to her father's to receive 
the thanks of the family. The Mordaunts are a family any one 
can visit with pleasure. Was the battle between you and the 
beast a very desperate conflict, my child?" 

" Poh ! mother: — Jason is a regular dealer in marvels, and 
he makes mountains of molehills. In the first place, for ' jaws,' 
you must substitute ' paws,' and for a * young lady,' ' her 
shawl.' " 

"Yes, I understand it was the shawl, but it was on her 
shoulders, and could not have been disengaged time enough 
to save her, had you not shown so much presence of mind and 
courage. As for the *jaws,' I believe that was my mistake, 
for Mr. Newcome certainly said * claws.' " 

* ' Well, mother, have it your own way. I was of a little 
service to a very charming young woman, and she and her 
father were civil to me, as a matter of course. Hei-man Mor- 
daunt is a name we all know, and, as you say, his is a family 
that any man may be proud of visiting, ay, and pleased too." 

"How odd it is, Corny," added my mother, in a sort of 
musing, soliloquizing way — " you are an only child, and Anneke 
Mordaunt is also an only child, as Dirck FoUock has often told 
me." 

" Then Dirck has spoken to you frequently of Anneke, before 
this, mother?" 



SATANSTOE. 153 

" Time and again ; tliey are relations, you must have licard ; 
as, indeed, you are yourself, if you did but know it." 

"I ? — related to Annekc Mordaunt, without being too 7icarP^ 

My dear mother smiled again, while I felt sadly ashamed of 
myself at the next instant. I believe that a suspicion of the 
truth, as respects my infant passion, existed in that dear parent's 
mind from that moment. 

"Certainly related, Corny, and I will tell you how. My 
grcat-grcat-grandmother, Alida van der Heyden, Avas a first 
cousin of Herman Mordaunt' s great-grcat-grandmother, by his 
mother's side, who was a Van Klecck. So, you see, you and 
Ann eke are actually related." 

" Just near enough, mother, to put one at ease in their house, 
and not so near as to make relationship troublesome." 

" They tell me, my child, that Anneke is a sweet creature !" 

"If beauty, and modesty, and grace, and gentleness, and 
spirit, and sense, and delicacy, and virtue, and piety, can make 
any young woman of seventeen a sweet creature, mother, then 
Anneke is sweet." 

My dear mother seemed surprised at my warmth, but she 
smiled still more complacently than ever. Instead of pursuing 
the subject, however, she saw fit to change it, by speaking of 
the prospects of the season, and the many reasons we all had 
for thsnkfulness to God. I presume, with a woman's instinct, 
she had learned enough to satisfy her mind for the present. 

The summer soon succeeded to the May that proved so 
momentous to me ; and I sought occupation in the fields. 
Occupation, however, would not do. Anneke was with me, 
go where I would ; and glad was I when Dirck, about mid- 
summer, in one of his periodical visits to Satanstoe, proposed 
that we should ride over, and make another visit to Lilacsbush. 
He had written a note, to say we should be glad to ask a dinner 
and beds, if it were convenient, for a day a short distance 
ahead ; and he waited the answer at the Neck. This answer 
anived duly by mail, and was every thing we could wish. 
Herman Mordaunt offered us a hearty welcome, and sent the 



151 S A T A N S T O E . 

grateful intelligence tliat Iiis daugliter and Mary Wallace would 
botli be present to receive us. I envied Dirck the manly feel- 
ing wliich liad induced hiin to take this phiin and respectable 
course to his object. 

We went across the country, accordingly, and reached Lilacs- 
bush several hours before dinner. Anneke received ns with a 
bright suffusion of the face, and kind smiles ; though I could 
not detect the slightest difference in her manners to either. 
To both was she gracious, gentle, attentive, and lady-like. 
No allusion was made to the past, except a few remarks that 
were given on the subject of the theatre. The officers had con- 
tinued to play until the th had been ordered up the river, 

when Bulstrode, Billings, Harris, virtuous Marcia, and all, had 
proceeded to Albany in company. Anneke thought there was 
about as much to be displeased with, as there was to please, 
in these representations ; though her removal to the country had 
prevented her seeing more than three of them all. It was ad- 
mitted all round, however, that Bulstrode played admirably; 
and it was even regretted by certain persons, that he should not 
have been devoted to the stage. 

We passed the night at Lilacsbush, and remained an hour or 
two after breakfast next morning. I had carried a warm invi- 
tation from both my parents to Uerman Mordaunt, to ride over 
with the young ladies, and taste the fish of the Sound ; and the 
visit was returned in the course of the month of September. 
My mother received Anneke as a relation ; though I believe that 
both Herman Mordaunt and his daughter were surprised to 
learn that they came within even the wide embrace of Dutch 
kindred. They did not seem displeased, however, for the fam- 
ily name of my mother was good, and no one need to have 
been ashamed of affinity to /icr, on her own account. Our 
guests did not remain the night, but they left us in a sort of 
chaise that Herman Mordaunt kept for country use, about an 
hour before sunset. I mounted my horse, and rode five miles 
with the party, on its way back, and then took my leave of 
Anneke, as it turned out, for many, many Avenry months. 



SATAN STOE. 155 

The yc:ir 1'75'7 was mcmoniLIo in the colunics, by the prog- 
ress of the Avar, and as mucli so in Ncav York as in any other 
province. Montcahn had advanced to the head of Lake George, 
had taken Fort WilUam Ilenry, and a fearful massacre of the 
garrison had succeeded. This bold operation left the enemy in 
possession of Champlain ; and the strong post of Ticondcroga 
was adequately garrisoned by a formidable force. A general 
gloom was cast over the political affairs of the colony ; and it 
was understood that a great effort was to be made, the succeed- 
ing campaign, to repair the loss. Eumor spoke of large rein- 
forcements from home, and of greater levies in the colonies 
themselves than had been hitherto attempted. Lord Loudon 
was to return home, and a veteran of the name of Abercrombie 
was to succeed him in the command of all the forces of the 
king. Regiments began to arrive from the West Indies ; and, 
in the course of the winter of 1757-8, we heard at Satanstoe of 
the gayeties that these new forces had introduced into the town. 
Among other things, a regular corps of Thespians had arrived 
from the West Indies. 



ICG SATANSTOE, 



CHAPTER X. 

" Deal' hnsty-pudding, what nnpromised joy, 
Expinds my heart to meet thee in Savoy I 
Doomed o'er the world through devious paths to roam, 
Each clinic my country, and each house my home, 
My soul is soothed, my cares have found an end: 
1 greet my long-lost, unforgottcn friend." 

Baklow. 

The winter was soon drawing to a close, and my twenty-first 
birthday was past. My father and Colonel Follock, who came 
over to smoke more than usual that av inter with my father, 
began to talk of the journey Dirck and I were to take in 
quest of the patent. Maps were procured, calculations were 
made, and different modes of proceeding were proposed, by the 
various members of the family. I will acknowledge that the 
sight of the large, coarse, parchment map of the Mooseridge 
patent, as the new acquisition was called, from the circumstance 
of the surveyors having shot a moose on a particular ridge of 
land in its centre, excited certain feelings of avarice within my 
mind. There were streams meandering among hills and val- 
leys ; little lakes, or ponds, as they were eiToneously called in 
the language of the country, dotted the surface ; and there were 
all the artistical proofs of a valuable estate that a good map- 
maker could devise, to render the whole pleasing and prom- 
ising.* If it were a good thing to be the heir of Satanstoe, it 
was far better to be the tenant in common, with my friend 
Dirck, of all these ample plains, rich bottoms, flowing streams 

* Forty years ago. a gentleman in New York purchased a considerable body of wild 
land, on the faith of the map. When he camo to examine his new property, it was 
found to be particularly wanting in watercourses. The surveyor was sought, and 
rebuked for his deception, the map having numerous streams, etc. " Why did you 
lay down all these streams here, where none are to be found ?" demanded the irritat- 
ed purchaser, pointing to the document. " Why ? — Why, who the d— 1 ever saw a 
map without rivers?" was the answer. — Editob. 



SATANSTOE. 157 

and picturesque lakes. In a word, for the first time in the 
history of the colonies, the Littlepages had become the owners 
of what might be termed an estate. According to our New 
York parlance, six or eight hundred acres are not an estate ; 
nor two or three thousand, scarcely, but ten, or twenty, and 
much more, forty thousand acres of land, might be dignified 
with the name of an estate ! 

The first knotty point discussed, was to settle the manner in 
which Dirck and myself should reach Mooseridge. Two modes 
of going as far as Albany ofiered, and on one of these it was 
our first concern to decide. We might wait until the river 
opened, and go as far as Albany in a sloop, of which one or 
two left town each week when business was active, as it was 
certain to be in the spring of the year. It was thought, how- 
ever, that the army would require most of the means of trans- 
portation of this nature that offered ; and it might put us to 
both inconvenience and delay, to wait on the tardy movements 
of quarter-masters and contractors. Mj grandfather shook his 
head when the thing was named, and advised us to remain as 
independent as possible. 

" Have as little as possible to do with such peojile, Corny," 
put in my grandfather, now a gray-headed, venerable-looking 
old gentleman, who did not wear his wig half the time, but Avas 
content to appear in a pointed nightcap and gown at all hours, 
until just before dinner was announced, when he invariably 
came forth dressed as a gentleman — "Have as little as possible 
to do with these gentry. Corny. Money, and not honor, is 
their game ; and you will be treated like a barrel of beef, or a 
bag of potatoes, if you fall into their hands. If you move with 
the army at all, keep among the real soldiers, my boy, and, 
above all things, avoid the contractors." 

It was consequently determined that there was too much 
imcertainty and delay in waiting for a passage to Albany by 
water ; for it was known that the voyage itself often lasted ten 
days, or a fortnight, and it would be so late before we could 
pail, as to render this delay very inconvenient. The other 



158 SATANSTOE. 

mode of journeying, was to go before tlic snow had melted from 
tlic roads, by tlie aid of wbicli it was quite possible to make 
tlie distance between Satanstoe and Albany in three days. 

Certain considerations of economy next offered, and we set- 
tled down on the following plan ; which, as it strikes me, is, 
even now, worthy of being mentioned on account of its pru- 
dence and judgment. It was well known that there would be 
a great demand for horses for the army, as well as for stores, 
provisions, etc., of various sorts. Now, we had on the Neck 
several stout horses, that were falling into years, though still 
serviceable and good for a campaign. Colonel FoUock had 
others of the same description, and when the cavalry of the two 
farms were all assembled at Satanstoe, there were found to be 
no fewer than fourteen of the venerable animals. These made 
just three four-horse teams, besides leaving a pair for a lighter 
load. Old, stout lumber sleighs were bought, or found, and 
repaired ; and Jaap, having two other blacks with him, was 
sent off at the head of what my father called a brigade of lum- 
ber sleighs, all of which were loaded with the spare pork and 
flour of the two families. The war had rendered these articles 
quite high ; but the hogs that were slaughtered at Christmas 
had not yet been sold ; and it was decided that Dirck and my- 
self could not commence our career as men who had to buy and 
sell from the respective farms, in any manner more likely to be 
useful to us and to our parents, than this. As Yaap's move- 
ments were necessarily slow, he was permitted to precede Dirck 
and myself by two entire days, giving him time to clear the 
Highlands before we left Satanstoe. The negroes carried the 
provender for their horses, and no small portion of the food, 
and all of the cider that was necessary for their own consump- 
tion. No one was ashamed of economizing with his slaves in 
this manner ; the law of slavery itself existing principally as a 
money-making institution. I mention these little matters, that 
posterity may understand the conventional feeling of the colony 
on such points. 

"When every thing was ready, wc had to listen to much good 



SATANSTOE. 159 

advice from our friends, previously to lauuching ourselves into 
the world. What Colonel FoUock said to Dirck, the latter 
never told nie ; but the following was pretty much the form and 
substance of that which I received from my own father — the 
interview taking place in a little rooni he called his "office," 
or '* study," as Jason used to tei-m it. 

"Here, Corny, arc all the bills, or invoices, properly made 
out," my father commenced, handing me a small sheaf of papers; 
" and you will do well to consult them before you make any 
sales. Here are letters of introduction to several gentlemen in 
the army, whose acquaintance I could wish you to cultivate. 
This, in particular, is to my old captain, Charles Merrewethcr, 
who is now a lieutenant-colonel, and commands a battalion in 
the Royal Americans. You will find him of great service to 
you while you remain with the army, I make no doubt. Pork, 
they tell me, if of the quality of that you will have, ought to 
bring three half-joes the barrel — and you might ask that much. 
Should accident procure you an invitation to the table of the 
commander-in-chief, as may happen through Colonel Merre- 
wethcr' s friendship, I trust you will do full credit to the loyalty 
of the Littlepages. Ah ! there's the flour, too ; it ought to be 
worth two half-jocs the barrel, in times like these. I have 
thrown in a letter or two to some of the Schuylers, with whom 
I served when of your age. They are firstrate people, remem- 
ber, and rank among the highest families of the colonies ; full 
of good old Van Cortlandt blood, and well crossed with the 
Rensselaers. Should any of them ask you about the barrel of 
tongues, that you will find marked T — " 

" Any of Avhom, sir ; the Schuylers, the Cortlandts, or the 
Rensselaers?" 

"Poh! any of the sutlers, or contractors, I mean, of course. 
You can tell them that they were cured at home, and that you 
dare recommend them as fit for the commander-in-chief's own 
table." 

Such Avas the character of my father's parting instructions. 
My mother held a difFcrent discourse. 



160 SATANSTOE. 

" Corny, my beloved child," slic said ; "this will he an all- 
important journey to you. Not only are you going far from 
home, but you are going to a part of the country where much 
will be to be seen. I hope you Avill remember what was pro- 
mised for you, by your sponsors in baptism, and also what is 
owing to your own good name, and that of your family. The 
letters you take with you, Avill probably introduce you to good 
company, and that is a great beginning to a youth. I wish 
you to cultivate the society of reputable females. Corny. My 
sex has great influence on the conduct of yours, at your time of 
life, and both your manners and principles will be aided by 
being as much, with women of character as possible." 

"But, mother, if we are to go any distance with the army, 
as both my father and Colonel FoUock wish, it will not be in 
our power to be much in ladies' society." 

"I speak of the time you will pass in and near Albany. I 
do not expect you will find accomplished women at Mooseridgc, 
nor, should you really go any distance with the troops, though 
I see no occasion for your going with them a single foot, since 
you are not a soldier, nor do I suppose you will find many rep- 
utable women in the fcamp ; but, avail yourself of every favorable 
opportunity to go into good company. I have procured a 
letter for you, from a lady of one of the great families of the 
country, to Madam Schuyler, who is above all other women, 
they tell me, in and around Albany. Her you must see, and I 
charge you, on your duty, to deliver this letter. It is possible, 
too, that Herman Mordaunt " 

"What of Herman Mordaunt and Anneke, mother?" 

"I spoke only of Herman Mordaunt himself, and did not 
mention Anneke, boy," answered my mother, smiling, "though 
I doubt not that the daughter is with the father. They left 
town for Albany, two months since, my sister Legge writes me, 
and intend to pass the summer north. I will not deceive you. 
Corny, so you shall hear all that your aunt has written on the 
subject. In the first place, she says Herman Mordaunt has gone 
vn palilic service, having an especial appointment for some 



SATANSTOE. IGl 

particular duty of importance, tliat is private, but Avliicli it is 
known will detain him near Albany, and among the northern 
posts, until the close of the season, though he gives out to the 
world he is absent on account of some land he has in Albany 
county. His daughter and Mary Wallace are with him, with 
several servants, and they have taken up with them a sleigh- 
load of conveniences ; that looks like remaining. Now, you 
ought to hear the rest, my child, though I feel no apprehen- 
sion when such a youth as yourself is put in competition with 
any other man in the colony. Yes, though your own mother, 
I think I may say that /" 

" What is it, mother ? — never mind me ; I shall do well 
enough, depend on it — that is — but what is it, dear mother?" 

" Why, your aunt says it is whispered among a few in town, 
a very few only, but whispered, that Herman Mordaunt got the 
appointment named, merely that he might have a pretence for 

taking Anneke near the th, in which regiment it seems 

there is a baronet's son, who is a sort of relative of his, and 
whom he wishes to marry to Anneke." 

"I am sorry, then, that my aunt Lcgge listens to any such 
unworthy gossip!" I indignantly cried. "My life on it, An- 
neke Mordaunt never contemplated so indelicate a thing ?" 

" No one supposes Anneke does, or did. But fathers are not 
daughters, Corny ; no, nor mothers neither, as I can freely say, 
seeing you are my only child. Herman Mordaunt may: imag- 
ine all this in his heart, and Anneke be every thing that is 
innocent and delicate." 

"And how can my aunt Lcgge's informants know what is in 
Herman Mordaunt's heart?" 

"How? — I suppose they judge by what they find in their 
own, my son ; a common means of coming at a neighbor's 
failings, though I believe virtues are rarely detected by the same 
process." 

" Ay, and judge of others by themselves. The means may 
be common, mother, but they are not infallible." 

" Certainly not, Corny, and that will be a ground of hope to 



162 SATANSTOE. 

you. Remember, my cliikl, you can bring mo no daughter I 
shall love half as well as I feel I can love Anneke Mordaunt. 
We are related too, her father's grcat-great-grandmothcr " 

" Never mind the great-great-grandmother, my dear, good, 
excellent, parent. After this I shall not attempt to have any 
secret from you. Unless Anneke Mordaunt consent to be your 
daughter, you will never have one." 

"Do not say that. Corny, I beseech you," cried my mother, 
a good deal frightened. "Eemember there is no accounting 
for tastes ; the army is a formidable rival, and, after all, this 
Mr, Bulstrode, I think you call him, may prove as acceptable to 
Anneke as to her father. Do not say so cruel a thing, I entreat 
of you, dearest, dearest, Corny." 

" It is not a minute, mother, since you said how little you 
apprehended for me, when opposed by any other man in the 
province !" 

"Yes, child, but that is a very different thing from seeing 
you pass all j^our days as a heartless, comfortless old bachelor. 
Tliere are fifty young women in this very colony, I could 
wish to see you united to, in preference to witnessing such a 
calamity." 

" AA^ell, mother, we will say no more about it. But is it trao 
that Mr. Worden actually intends to be of our party ?" 

" Both Mr. Worden and Mr. Newcome, I beUeve. We shall 
scarcely know how to spare the first, but he conceives he has 
a call to accompany the army, in which there arc so few chap- 
lains ; and souls are called to their last dread account so 
suddenly in war, that one does not know how to refuse to let 
him go." 

My poor, confiding mother ! When I look back at the past, 
and remember the manner in which the Reverend Mr. Worden 
discharged the duties of his sacred office during the campaign 
that succeeded, I cannot but smile at the manner in which con- 
fidence manifests itself in woman. The sex have a natural 
disposition to place their trust in priests, by a very simple pro- 
cess of transferri)ig their own dispositions to the bosoms of 



SATANSTOE. 1G3 

those tliey believe set apart for purely holy oLjccts. Well, wo 
live and learn. I dare say that many are what they profess to 
be, but I have lived long enough to know all are not. As for 
!Mr. Wordcn, he had one good point about him, at any rate. 
His friends and liis enemies saw the worst of him. He was no 
hypocrite, but his associates saw the man very much as he was. 
Still, I am far from wishing to hold up this imported minister 
as a model of Christian graces for my descendants to admire. 
No one can be more con\dnccd than myself how much secta- 
rians are prone to substitute their own narrow notions of right 
and wrong for the law of God, confounding acts that are per- 
fectly innocent in themselves with sin ; but, at the same time, I 
am quite aware too, that appearances are ever to be consulted 
in cases of morals, and that it is a minor virtue to be decent 
in matters of manners. The Reverend Mr. Worden, whatever 
might htive been his position as to substantials, certainly car- 
ried the external of liberality to the verge of indiscretion. 

A day or two after the conversation I have related, our party 
left Satanstoe, with some eclat. The team belonged equally to 
the Follocks and the Littlepages, one horse being the property 
of my father, while the other belonged to Colonel FoUock. 
The sleigh, an old one new jjainted for the occasion, was the 
sole property of the latter gentleman, and was consigned, in 
mercantile phrase, to Dirck, in order to be disposed of as soon 
as we should reach the end of our journey. On its exterior it 
was painted a bright sky-blue, while its interior was of vermil- 
lion, a color that was and is much in vogue for this species of 
vehicle, inasmuch as it carries with it the idea of warmth ; so, 
at least, the old people say, though I will confess I never found 
my toes any less cold in a sleigh thus painted, than in one 
pamted blue, which is usually thought a particularly cold color 
to the feet. 

We had three buffalo-skins, or rather two buffalo (bison) skins 
and one bear-skin. The latter, being trimmed with scarlet cloth, 
bad a particularly warm and comfortable appearance. The 
largest skin was placed on the hind-scat, and thrown over the 



164 SATANSTOE. 

back of the sleigli, as a matter of course ; and, tlioiigli tliis back 
was bigb enough to break oflF the wind from our heads and 
necks, the skin not only covered it, but it hung two or three 
feet down behind, as is becoming in a gentleman's sleigh. The 
other buffalo was spread in the bottom of the sleigh, as a carpet 
for all four, leaving an apron to come in front upon Dirck's and 
my lap, as a protection against the cold in that quarter. The 
bear-skin formed a cushion for us in front and an apron for Mr. 
Worden and Jason, who sat behind. Our trunks had gone 
on the lumber sleighs, that is, mine and Dirck's had thus been 
sent, while our two companions found room for theirs in the 
conveyance in which we went ourselves. 

It was March 1st, 1758, the morning we left Satanstoe on 
this memorable excursion. The winter had proved as was com- 
mon in our latitude, though there had been more snow along 
the coast than was usual. Salt air and snow do not a^ree well 
together ; but I had driven in a sleigh over the Neck, most of 
the month of February, though there were symptoms of a 
thaw, and of a southerly wind the day we left home. My 
father observed this, and he advised me to take the road through 
the centre of the county, and get among the hills, as soon as 
possible. Not only was there always more snow in that part 
of the country, but it resisted the influence of a thaw much 
longer than that which had fallen near the sea or Sound. I got 
my mother's last kiss, my father's last shake of the hand, my 
grandfather's blessing, stepped into the sleigh, took the reins 
from Dirck, and drove off. 

A party in a sleigh must be composed of a very sombre sort 
of persons, if it be not a meiTy one. In our case, every body 
was disposed to good humor; though Jason could not pass 
along the highway in York colony, without giving vent to his 
provincial, Connecticut hypercriticism. Every thing was Dutch, 
according to his view of matters ; and when it failed of being 
Dutch, why, it was York colony. The doors were not in the 
right places ; the windows were too large, when they were 
not too small ; things had a cabbage-look ; the people smelt 



SATANSTOE. 165 

of tobacco ; and liasty-pudding was called " suppaan." But 
these were trifles ; and being used to them, nobody paid much 
attention to what our Puritanical neighbor saw fit to pour out, 
in the humility and meekness of his soul. Mr. Worden chuck- 
led, and urged Jason on, in the hope of irritating Dirck ; but 
Dirck smoked through it all, with an indifference that proved 
how much he really despised the critic. I was the only one 
who resented this supercilious ignorance; but even I was often 
more disposed to laugh than to be angry. 

The signs of a thaw increased, as we got a few miles from 
home ; and by the time we reached White Plains, the " south 
wind" did not blow "softly," but freshly, and the snow in the 
road became sloppy, and rills of water were seen running down 
the hill-sides, in a way that menaced destruction to the sleigh- 
ing. On we drove, however, and deeper and deeper we got 
among the hills, until we found not only more snow, but fewer 
symptoms of immediately losing it. Our first day's work car- 
ried us well into the manor of the Van Cortlandts, where we 
passed the night. Next morning the south wind was still blow- 
ing, sweeping over the fields of snow, charged with the salt air 
of the ocean ; and bare spots began to show themselves on all 
the acclivities and hill-sides — an admonition for us to be stir- 
ring. We breakfasted in the Highlands, and in a wild and 
retired part of them, though in a part where snow and beaten 
roads were still to be found. We had escaped from the thaw, 
and no longer felt any uneasiness on the subject of reaching the 
ond of our journey on runners. 

The second day brought us fairly through the mountains, 
out on the plains of Dutchess, permitting us to sup at Fishkill. 
This was a thriving settlement, the people appearing to me to 
live in abundance, as certainly they did in peace and quiet; 
They made little of the war, and asked us many questions con- 
cerning the army, its commanders, its force and its objects. 
They were a simple, and, judging from appearances, an honest 
people, who troubled themselves very little with what was going 
on in the world. 



IOC SATANSTOE. 

After quitting Fisblcill, we found a great cliaiige, not only in 
the country, but in the weather. Tlie first Avas level as a whole, 
and was much better settled than I could have believed pos- 
sible so far in the interior. As for the weather, it was quite a 
different climate from that we had left below the Iligh lands. 
Not only was the morning cold, cold as it had been a month 
earlier with us, but the snow still lay two or three feet deep on 
a level, and the sleighing was as good as heart could wish. 

That afternoon we overtook Yaap and the brigade of lumber 
sieighs. Every thing had gone right, and after giving the fellow 
some fresh instructions, I passed him, proceeding on our route. 
This parting did not take place, however, until the following 
had been uttered between us: 

" Well, Yaap," I inquired, as a sort of close to the previous 
discourse, "how do you like the upper counties?" 

A loud negro laugh succeeded, and a repetition of the ques- 
tion Avas necessary to extort an answer. 

"Lor', Masser Corny, how you t'ink I know, when derc 
not'in but snow to be seen!" 

" There was plenty of snow in AVestchester ; yet, I dare say 
you could give some opinion of our own county !" 

" 'Cause I know him, sah ; inside and out, and all over, 
Masser Corny." 

" Well ; but you can see the houses, and orchards, and barns, 
and fences, and other things of that sort." 

* "Em pretty much like our'n, Masser Corn 3^; why do you 
bother nigger with sich question?" 

Here another burst of loud, hearty " yah — yah — yahs" suc- 
ceeded ; and Yaap had his laugh out before another word could 
be got out of him, when I put the question a third time. 

"Well, den, Masser Corny, sin' you will know, dis is ray 
mind. Dis country is oncomparable with our ole county, sah. 
De houses seem mean, de barns look empty, de fences be low, 
and de niggers, ebbery one of 'em, look cold, sah — yes, sah — • 
'ey look berry cold !" 

As a " cold negro" was a most pitiable object in negro eyes, 



SATANSTOE. JG7 

I s:uv Ly this summary tliat Yaap had commenced his travels 
in much the same temper of superciliousness as Jason Newcome. 
It struck mc as odd at the time; but since that day, I have 
ascertained that this feeling is a very general travelling com- 
panion for those who set out on their first journey. 

Wc passed our third night at a small hamlet called Ehine- 
heck, in a settlement in which many German names were to be 
found. Here we were travelling through the vast estates of 
the Livingstons, a name well known in our colonial history. 
"We breakfasted at Claverack, and passed through a place called 
Kinderhook — a village of Low Dutch origin and some antiquity. 
That night we succeeded in coming near Albany, by making a 
very hard day's drive of it. There was no village at the place 
where we slept ; but the house was a comfortable and exceed- 
ingly neat Dutch tavern. After quitting Fishkill we had seen 
more or less of the river, until we passed Claverack, where we 
took our leave of it. It was covered with ice, and sleighs were 
moving about it, with great apparent security; but we did not 
like to try it. Our whole party preferred a solid highway, in 
which there was no danger of the bottom dropping out. 

As we were now about to enter Albany, the second largest 
town in the colony, and one of the largest inland towns in the 
whole country, if such a word can properly be given to a place 
that lies on a navigable river, it was thought necessary to make 
some few arrangements, in order to do it decently. Instead of 
quitting the tavern at daylight, therefore, as had been our prac- 
tice previously, we remained until after breakfast, having re- 
course to our trunks in the mean time. Dirck, Jason, and 
myself, had provided ourselves with fur caps for the journey, 
with car-laps and other contrivances for keeping one's self warm. 
The cap of Dirck, and my own, were of very fine martens' skin, 
and as they were round and high, and each was surmounted 
with a handsome tail that fell down behind, they had both a 
smart and miUtary air. I thought I had never seen Dirck look 
so nobly and well, as he did in his cap, and I got a few compli- 
ments on my own air in mine, though they were only from my 



168 SATANSTOE. 

mother, who, I think would feel disposed to praise nic, even if 
I looked wretchedly. The cap of Jason was better suited to 
his purse, being lower, and of fox-skins, though it had a tail 
also. Mr. Worden had declined travelling in a cap, as unsuit- 
ed to his holy office. Accordingly, he wore his clerical beaver, 
which diflfered a little from the ordinary cocked hats that we 
all wore, as a matter of course, though not so much as to be 
very striking. 

All of us had overcoats well trimmed with furs, mine and 
Dirck's being really handsome, with trimmings of marten, while 
those of our companion were less showy and expensive. On a 
consultation, Dirck .and I decided that it was better taste to 
enter the town in travellers' dresses, than to enter it in any 
other, and we merely smartened up a little, in order to appear 
as gentlemen. The case was very different with Jason. Ac- 
cording to his idea a man should wear his best clothes on a 
journey, and I was surprised to see him appear at breakfast in 
black breeches, striped woollen stockings, large plated buckles 
in his shoes, and a coat that I well knew he religiously reserved 
for high-days and holidays. This coat was of a light pea-green 
color, and but little adapted to the season ; but Jason had not 
much notion of the fitness of things, in general, in matters of 
taste. Dirck and myself wore our ordinary snuff-colored coats, 
under our furs ; but Jason threw aside all the overcoats, when 
we came near Albany, in order to enter the place in his best. 
Fortunately for him, the day was mild, and there was a bright 
sun to send its warm rays through the pea-green covering, to 
keep his blood from chilling. As for Mr. Worden, he wore a 
cloak of black cloth, laying aside all the furs but a tippet and 
muff, both of which he used habitually in cold weather. 

In this guise, then, we left the tavern, about nine in the 
morning, expecting to reach the banks of the river about ten. 
Nor were we disappointed ; the roads being excellent, a light 
fall of snow having occurred in the night, to freshen the track. 
It was an interesting moment to us all, when the spires and 
roofs of that ancient town, Albany, first appeared in view ! 



8ATANST0E. 1G9 

We had journeyed from near the southern boundary of the 
colony, to a place that stood at no great distance from its fron- 
tier settlements on the north. The town itself formed a pleasing 
object, as we approached it, on the opposite side of the Hudson. 
There it lay, stretching along the low land on the margin of the 
stream, and on its western bank, sheltered by high hills, up the 
side of which the principal street extended, for the distance of 
fully a quarter of a mile. Near the head of this street stood 
the fort, and we saw a brigade paraded in the open ground near 
it, wheeling and marching about. The spires of two churches 
were visible, one, the oldest, being seated on the low land, in 
the heart of the place, and the other on the height at no great 
distance from the fort; or about half-way up the acclivity, 
which forms the barrier to the inner country, on the side of the 
river. Both these buildings were of stone, of course, shingle 
tenements being of very rare occurrence in the colony of New 
York, though common enough further east.* 

I will own that not one of our party liked the idea of cross- 
ing the Hudson, in a loaded sleigh, on the ice, and that in the 
month of March. There were no streams about us to be crossed 
in this mode, nor was the cold exactly sufficient to render such 
a transit safe, and we felt as the inexperienced would be apt to 
feel in circumstances so unpleasant. I must do Jason the credit 
to admit that he showed more plain, practical good sense than 
any of us, determining our course in the end by his view of the 

* In nothing was the difference of character between the people of New England 
and those of the middle colonies more apparent, than in the nature of the dwellings. 
In New York, for instance, men worth thousands dwelt in humble, low (usually one 
story) dwellings of stone, having window-shutters, frequently within as well as with- 
out, and the other appliances of comfort; whereas the farmer farther east was seldom 
satisfied, though his means were limited, unless he lived in a house as good ns his 
neighbor's; and the strife dotted the whole of their colonies with wooden buildings, 
of great pretensions for the age, that rarely had even exterior shutters, and which 
frequently stood for generations unfinished. The difference was not of Dutch origin, 
for it was just as apparent in New Jersey or Pennsylvania as in New York, ami I 
think it may be attributed to a very obvious consequence of a general equ.ility of cun- 
dition, a state of society in which no one is content to wear even the semblance of 
poverty, but those who cannot by any means prevent it; but in which all strive to 
get as high as ijossible, in appearances at least. — Editok. 



170 SATANSTOE. 

matter. As for Mr. Worden, however, nothing could induce 
him to venture on the ice in a sleigli, or near a sleigh, though 
Jason remonstrated in the following terms — 

" Now, look here, Rev. Mr. Worden" — Jason seldom omitted 
any body's title — " you've only to turn your eyes on the river 
to see it is dotted with sleighs, far and near. There are high- 
Avays north and south, and if that be the place where the cross- 
ing is at the town, it is more like a thoroughfare than a spot 
that is risky. In my judgment, these people who live here- 
abouts ought to know ■\j'h ether there is any danger or not." 

Obvious as was this truth, " Rev. Mr. Worden" made us 
stop on terra firma, and permit him to quit the sleigh, that he 
might cross the river on foot. Jason ventured a hint or two 
about faith and its virtues, as he stripped himself to the pea- 
green, in 'order to enter the town in proper guise, throwing 
aside every thing that concealed his finery. As for Dirck and 
myself, we kept our seats manfully, and trotted on the river at 
the point where we saw sleighs and foot-passengers going and 
coming in some numbers. The Rev. Mr. Worden, however, 
was not content to take the beaten path, for he knew there was 
no more security in being out on the ice, near a sleigh, than 
there was in being in it, so he diverged from the road, which 
crossed at the ferry, striking diagonally athwart the river to- 
ward the wharves of the place. 

It seemed to me to be a sort of holiday among the young 
and idle, one sleigh passing us after another, filled with young 
men and maidens, all sparkling with the excitement of the mo- 
ment, and gay with youth and spirits. We passed no less than 
four of these sleighs on the river, the jingling of the bells, the 
quick movement, the laughter and gayety, and the animation of 
the whole scene, far exceeding any thing of the sort I had ever 
before witnessed. We were nearly across the river, when a 
sleigh more handsomely equipped than any we had yet seen, 
dashed doAvn the bank, and came whirling past us like a comet. 
It was full of ladies, with the exception of one gentleman, who 
8tood erect in front, driving. I recognized Bulstrode, in furs 



8ATANST0E, 



m 



like all of us, capped and tailed, if not plumed, while among 
the half-dozen pairs of brilliant eyes that were turned with their 
owners' smiling faces on us, I saw one which never could be 
forgotten by me, that belonged to Anneke Mordaunt. I ques- 
tion if we were recognized, for the passage was like that of a 
meteor ; but I could not avoid turning to gaze after the gay 
party. This change of position enabled me to be a witness of 
a very amusing consequence of Mr. Worden's experiment. A 
sleigh was earning in our direction, and the party in it seeing 
one who was known for a clergyman, ivalking on the ice, turned 
aside and approached him on a gallop, in order to offer the 
courtesy of a seat to a man of his sacred profession. Our 
divine heard the bells, and fearful of having a sleigh so near 
him, he commenced a downright flight, pursued by the people 
in the sleigh, as fast as their horses could follow. Every body 
on the ice pulled up to gaze in wonder at this strange spectacle, 
until the whole party reached the shore, the Rev. ^Ir. Worden 
pretty well blown, as the reader may suppose. 




172 SATANSTOE. 



CHAPTER XL 

" Bid physicians talk our veins to temper, 
And with nn argument new-set a pulse, 
Then think, my lord, of reasoning unto love." 

Yoxrtm. 

As tlie road from the ferry into the town ran along the bank 
of the river, we reached the point where the Rev. Mr. Worden 
had landed precisely at the same instant with his pursuers, who 
had been obliged to make a little circuit, in order to get off the 
ice. I do not know which party regarded the other in the 
gi'eatest astonishment — ^the hunted, or the hunters. The sleigh 
had in it two fine-looking young fellows, that spoke English 
with a slight Dutch accent, and three young women, whose 
bright coal-black eyes betokened surprise a little mitigated by a 
desire to laugh. Seeing that we were all strangers, I suppose, 
and that we claimed the runaway as belonging to our party, 
one of the young men raised his cap very respectfully, and 
opened the discourse by asking in a very civil tone — 

" What ails the reverent gentleman, to make him run so 
f-ist ?" 

" Run !" exclaimed Mr. Worden, whose lungs had been 
playing like a blacksmith's bellows — "Run! and who would 
not run to save himself from being drowned ?" 

"Drowned!" repeated the young Dutchman, looking round 
at the river, as if to ascertain whether the ice were actually 
moving — "why, does the Dominie suppose there was any dan* 
geTofthatr 

As Mr. Worden's bellows were still hard at work, I explained 
to the young Albanians that we were strangers just arrived from 
the vicinity of New York ; that we were unaccustomed to frozen 
rivers, and had never crossed one on the ice before ; that our 



8ATANST0E. 173 

reverend companion had ciiosen to walk at a distance from the 
road, in order to be in less danger should any team break in, 
and that he had naturally run to avoid their sleigh when he 
saw it approaching. The Albanians heard this account in re- 
spectful silence, though I could see the two young men casting 
sly glances at each other, and that even the ladies had some 
little diflBcuIty in altogether suppressing their smiles. When it 
was through, the oldest of the Dutchmen — a fine, dare-devil, 
roystering-looking fellow of four or five-and-twenty, whose dress 
and mien, however, denoted a person of the upper class — begged 
a thousand pardons for his mistake, quitting his sleigh and in- 
sisting on ha\ang the honors of shaking hands with the whole 
of us. His name was "Ten Eyck," he said; "Guert Ten 
Eyck," and he asked permission, as we were strangers, of doing 
the honor of Albany to us. Every body in the place knew him, 
which, as we afterward ascertained, was true enough, for he 
had just as much reputation for fun and frolic as at all com- 
ported with respectability ; keeping along, as it were, on the 
very verge of the pale of reputable people, without being thrown 
entirely out of it. The young females with him were a shade 
below his own natural position in society, tolerating his frolics 
on account of this circumstance, aided as it was by a singularly 
manly face and person, a hearty and ready laugh, a full purse, 
and possibly by the secret hope of being the happy individual 
who was designed by Providence to convert " a reformed rake 
into the best of husbands." In a word, he was always wel- 
come with them, when those a little above them felt more dis- 
posed to frown. 

Of course, all this was unknown to us at the time, and we 
accepted Guert Ten Eyck's proffers of civility in the spirit in 
which they were offered. He inquired at what tavern we 
intended to stop, and promised an early call. Then, shaking 
us all round by the hand again with great cordiality, he took 
his leave. His companion doffed a very dashing, high, wolf- 
skin cap to us, and the black-eyed trio, on the liind seat, smiled 
graciously, and away they drove at a furious rate, startling all 



174 SATANSTOE. 

the echoes of Albany with their bells. By this time Mr. Wor- 
den was seated, and we followed more moderately, our team 
having none of the Dutch courage of a pair of horses fresh from 
the stable. Such were the circumstances under which we 
made our entrance into the ancient city of Albany. AVe were 
all in hopes the little affair of the chase would soon be for- 
gotten, for no one likes to be associated with a ridiculous cir- 
cumstance, but we counted without our host. Gucrt Ten Eyck 
was not of a temperament to let such an affair sleep, but, as I 
afterward ascertained, he told it with the laughing embellish- 
ments that belonged to his reckless character, until, in turn, the 
Rev. Mr. Worden came to be known, throughout all that region, 
by the nickname of the " Loping Dominie." 

The reader may be assured our eyes were about us, as we 
drove through the streets of the second town in the colony. 
We were not unaccustomed to houses constructed in the Dutch 
style, in New York, though the English mode of building had 
been most in vogue there, for half a century. It was not so 
with Albany, which remained, essentially, a Dutch town in 
1758.* "NVe heard little beside Dutch, as we passed along. The 
women scolded their children in Low Dutch, a use, by the way, 
for which the language appears singularly well adapted ; the 
negroes sang Dutch songs; the men called to each other in 
Dutch, and Dutch rang in our ears, as we walked our horses 
through the streets, toward the tavern. There were many 
soldiers about, and other proofs of the presence of a consider- 
able military force were not wanting ; still the place struck me 
as very provincial and peculiar, after New York. Nearly all the 
liouses were built with their gables to the streets, and each had 

• The population of Albany could not have reached four thousand in 175S. Ita 
Dutch character remained down to the close of this century, with gradual changes. 
The writer can remember when quite as much Dutch as English was heard in the 
streets of Albany, though it has now nearly disappeared. The present population 
must be near forty thousand. 

Mr. Littlepage's description was doubtless correct at the time he wrote ; but Albany 
would now be considered a first-class country town in Europe. It has much better 
claims to compare with the towns of the old world, in this character, than New York 
has to compare with their capitals. — Ei.TroK. 



SATANSTOE. 



1V5 



Iiea\y wooden Dutch stoops, with seats, at its door. A few had 
small court-yards in front, and here and there was a building 
of somewhat more pretension than usual. I do not think, how- 
ever, there were fifty houses in the place that were built with 
their gables off the line of the streets. 

We -were no sooner housed, than Dirck and I sallied forth to 
look at the place. Here we were, in one of the oldest towns 
of America; a place that could boast of much more than a 
century's existence, and it was natural to feel curious to look 
about one. Our inn was in the principal street — that which led 
up the hill toward the fort. This street was a wide avenue, 
that quite put Broadway out of countenance, so far as mere 
width was concerned. The streets that led out of it, however, 
were principally little better than lanes, as if the space that had 
been given to two or three of the main streets had been taken 
off of the remainder. The High street, as we English would 
call it, was occupied by sleds filled with wood for sale ; sleds 
loaded with geese, turkeys, tame and wild, and poultry of all 
sorts ; sleds w ith venison, still in the skin, piled up in heaps, 
etc. — all these eatables being collected, in unusual quantities as 
we were told, to meet the extraordinary demand created by the 
diff'erent military messes. Deer were no strangers to us ; for 
Long Island was full of all sorts of game, as were the upper 
counties of New Jersey. Even Westchester, old and well set- 
tled as it had become, was not yet altogether clear of deer, and 
nothing was easier than to knock over a buck in the Highlands. 
Nevertheless, I had never seen venison, wild turkeys and stur- 
geons, in such quantities as they were to be seen that day in the 
principal street of Albany. 

The crowd collected in this Street, the sleighs that w<?rc 
whirling past, filled with young men and maidens, the incessant 
jingling of bells, the spluttering and jawing in Low Dutch, the 
hearty English oaths of Serjeants and sutlers' -men and cooks of 
messes, the loud laughs of the blacks, and the beauty of the 
cold, clear day, altogether produced some such efiiect on me, as 
I had experienced when I went to the theatre. Not the least 



176 SATANSTOE. 

Btriking picture of tbe scene, was Jason, in the middle of the 
street, gaping about him, in the cocked-hat, the pea-green coat, 
and the striped woollen stockings. 

Dirck and myself naturally examined the churches. These 
were two, as has been said already — one for the Dutch, and the 
other for the English. The first was the oldest. It stood at 
the point where the two principal streets crossed each other, 
and in the centre of the street, leaving sufficient passages all 
round it. The building was square, with a high, pointed roof, 
having a belfry and weathercock on its apex ; windows, with 
diamond panes and painted glass, and a porch that was well 
suited both to the climate and to appearances.* 

We were examining this structure, when Guert Ten Eyck 
accosted us, in his frank, oflf-hand way — 

" Your servant, Mr. Littlcpage ; your servant, Mr. Follock," 
he cried, again shaking each cordially by the hand. " I was 
on the way to the tavern to look you up, when I accidentally 
saw you here. A few gentlemen of my acquaintance, who are 
in the habit of supping together in the winter time, meet for 
the last jollification of the season to-night, and they have all 
express't a wish to have the pleasure of your company. I hope 
you will allow me to say you will come ? We meet at nine, sup 
at ten, and break up at twelve, quite regularly, in a very sedate 
and prudent manner." 

There was something so frank and cordial, so simple and 
straightforward in this invitation, that we did not know how 
to decline it. We both knew that the name of Ten Eyck was 
respectable in the colony ; our new acquaintance was well 
dressed, he seemed to be in good company when we first met 
him, his sleigh and horses had been actually of a more dashing 
stamp than usual, and his OAvn attire had all the peculiarities 
of a gentleman's, with the addition of something even more 



* There ■were two churches of this character built on this spot. The second, much 
larger than the first, but of the same form, was built ravnd the other, in which ser- 
vice was held to the last, when it was literally thrown out of the windows of its 
luccessor. The last e lifice disappeared about forty years since. — Editoe. 



SATANSTOE, 



111 



decided and knowing than was common. It is true, the style 
of these peculiarities was not exactly such as I had seen in the 
air, manners and personal decorations of those of Billings and 
Harris ; but they were none the less striking, and none the less 
attractive; the two Englishmen being "macaronis" from Lon- 
don, and Ten Eyck being a "buck" of Albany. 

" I thank you, very heartily, Mr. Ten Eyck," I answered, 
" both for myself and for my friend — " 

" And will let me come for you at half-past eight, to show 
you the way ?" 

"Why, yes, sir; I was about to say as much, if it be not 
giving you too much trouble." 

" Do not speak of tr-r-ouple" — this last word will give a 
very good notion of Guert's accent, which I cannot stop to imi- 
tate at all times in writing — " and do not say joux fre'nt, but 
your/re'n<z." 

"As to the two that are not here, I cannot positively answer; 
yonder, however, is one that can speak for himself." 

" I see him, Mr. Littlepage, and will answer for him, on my 
own account. Depent on it, he will come. But the Dominie 
— he has a hearty look, and can help eat a turkey, and swallow 
a glass of goot Madeira — I think I can rely on. A man cannot 
take all that active exercise without food." 

" Mr. Worden is a very companionable man, and is excellent 
company at a supper table. I will communicate your invita- 
tion, and hope to be able to prevail on him to be of <he party." 

" T'at is enough, sir," returned Ten Eyck, or Guert, as I 
shall henceforce call him, in general; " vere dere ist a vill, 
dere ist a vay." Guert frequently broke out, in such specimens 
of broken English, while at other times he would speak almost 
as well as any of us. " So Got pless you, my dear Mr. Little- 
page, and make us lasting friends. I like your countenance, 
and my eye never deceives me in these matters." 

Here, Guert shook us both by the hand again, most cordial- 
ly, and left us. Dirck and I next strolled up the hill, going as 
high as the English church, which stood also in the centre of 



178 SATANSTOE. 

tlie principal street, an imposing and massive edifice in stono. 
With the exception of Mother Trinity in New York, th is was 
the largest, and altogether the most important edifice devoted 
to the worship of my own church I had ever seen. Tn West- 
chester, there were several of Queen Anne's churches, but none 
on a scale to compare with this. Our small edifices were usu- 
ally without galleries, steeples, towers, or bells; while St. 
Peter's, Albany, if not actually St. Peter's, Rome, was a build- 
ing of which a man might be proud. A little to our surprise, 
we found the Reverend Mr. Worden and Mr. Jason Newcome 
had met at the door of this edifice, having sent a boy to the 
sexton in quest of the key. In a minute or two, the urchin re- 
turned, bringing not only the key of the church, but the excuses 
of the sexton for not coming himself. The door was opened, 
and we went in. 

I have always admired the decorous and spiritual manner in 
which the Rev. Mr. Worden entered a building that had been 
consecrated to the services of the Deity. I know not how to 
desciibc it ; but it proved how completely he had been drilled 
in the decencies of his profession. Oif came his hat, of course ; 
and his manner, however facetious and easy it may have been 
the moment before, changed on the instant to gravity and 
decorum. Not so with Jason. He entered St. Peter's, Albany, 
with exactly the same indifferent and cynical air with which he 
had seemed to regard every thing but money, since he entered 
"York colony." Usually, he wore his cocked-hat on the 
back of his head, thereby lending himself a lolloping, negligent, 
and, at the same time, defying air ; but I observed that, as we 
all uncovered, he brought his own beaver up over his eyebrows, 
in a species of military bravado. To uncover to a church, in 
his view of the matter, was a sort of idolatry ; there might be 
hnages about, for any thing he knew ; " and a man could 
never be enough on his guard ag'n being carried away by such 
evil deceptions," as he had once before answered to a remon- 
Btrance of mine, for wearing his hat in our o^vn parish church, 

I found the interior of St. Peter's quite as imposing as its 



8ATANST0E, 



179 



exterior. Three of tne pews were' canopied, having coats-of- 
arms on their canopies. These, the boy told us, belonged to 
the Van Rensselaer and Schuyler families. All these were 
covered with black cloth, in mourning for some death in those 
ancient families, which were closely allied. I was very much 
struck with the dignified air that these patrician seats gave the 
house of God.* There were also several hatchments suspended 
against the Avails ; some being placed there in commemoration 
of officers of rank, from home, who had died in the king's ser- 
vice in the colony ; and others to mark the deaths of some of 
the more distinguished of our own people. 

Mr. Worden expressed himself well pleased with appearances 
of things, in and about this building ; though Jason regarded 
all with ill-concealed disgust. 

" What is the meaning of them pews with tops to them, 
Corny?" the pedagogue whispered me, afraid to encounter the 
parson's remarks, by his own criticism. 

" They are the pews of families of distinction in this place, 
Mr. Newcome ; and the canopies, or tops, as you call them, are 
honorable signs of their owners' conditions." 

"Do you think their owners will sit under such coverings in 
paradise. Corny ?" continued Jason, Avith a sneer. 

"It is impossible for me to say, sir ; it is probable, however, 
the just will not require any such mark to distinguish them 
from the unjust." 

" Let me see," said Jason, looking round and aflfecting to 

* I cannot recollect one of these canopied peirs that is now standing, in this part of 
Iho Union. The last, of my knowledge, were in St. Mark's, New York, and, I believe 
belonged to the Stnyvesants, the patron family of that church. They were taken 
down when that building was repaired, a few years since. This is one of the most 
innocent of all our innovations of this character. Distinctions in the house of God 
are opposed to the very spirit of the Christian religion ; and it were far more fitting 
that pews should be altogether done away with, the true mode of assembling tJiidor 
the sacred roof, than that men should be classed even at the foot of the altar. 

It maybe questioned if a hatchment is now hung up, either on the dwelling, or in a 
church, in any part of America. They were to be seen, however, in the early part of 
the present century. Whenever any such traces of ancient usages are met with 
among us, by the traveller from the old world, he is apt to mistake them for the 
jbadows " that coming events cast before," instead of those of tho past. — Editor. 



180 SATANSTOE. 

count ; " there are just tbree — ^bishop, priest, and deacon, I 
suppose. Waal, there's a seat for each, and they can be com- 
fortable here, whatever may turn up herea'tery 

I turned away, unwilling to dispute the point, for I knew it 
was as hopeless to expect that a Danbury man would feel like a 
New Yorker, on such a subject, as it was to expect that a New 
Yorker could be made to adopt Danbury sentiments. As for 
the argument, however, I have heard others of pretty much 
the same calibre often urged against the three orders of tho 
ministry. 

On quitting St. Peter's, I communicated the invitation of 
Guert Ten Eyck to Mr. Worden, and urged him to be of the 
party. I could see that the notion of a pleasant supper was 
any thing but unpleasant to the missionary. Still he had his 
scruples, inasmuch as he had not yet seen his reverend brother 
who had the charge of St. Peter's, did not know exactly the 
temper of his mind, and was particularly desirous of officiating 
for him, in the presence of the principal personages of the place, 
on the approaching Sunday. He had written a note to the 
chaplain ; for the person who had the cure of the Episcopalians 
held that rank in the army, St. Peter's being as much of an 
official chapel as a parish church ; and he must have an inter- 
view with that individual before he could decide. Fortunately, 
as we descended the street, toward our inn, we saw the very 
person in question. Tlie marks of the common office that these 
two divines bore about their persons in their dress, sufficed to 
make them known to each other at a glance. In five minutes, 
they had shaken hands, heard each man's account of himself, 
had given and accepted the invitation to preach, and were other- 
wise on free and easy terms. Mr. Worden was to dine in tho 
fort, with the chaplain. We then walked forward toward the 
tavern. 

" By the way, Mr. ," said Mr. Worden in a parenthesis 

of the discourse, " the family of Ten Eyck is quite respectable, 
here in Albany." 

"Very much so, sir — a family that is held in much esteem. 



8ATANST0E. 181 

I shall count on your assisting me, morning and evening, my 
dear Mr. Worden." 

It is surprising how the clergy do depend on each other for 
"assistance I" 

"Make your arrangements accordingly, my good brother — I 
am quite fresh, and have brought a good stock of sermons ; not 
knowing how much might remain to be done in the army. 
Corny," in a half-whisper, " you can let our new friends know 
that I will sup with them ; and, harkee — ^just drop a hint to 
them, that I am none of your Puritans." 

Here, then, we found every thing in a very fair way to bring 
us all out in society, within the first two hours of our arrival. 
Mr. Worden was engaged to preach the next day but one ; 
and he was engaged to supper that same day. All looked 
promising, and I hurried on in order to ascertain if Guert Ten 
Eyck had made his promised call. As before, he was met in 
the street, and the acceptance of the Dominie was duly com- 
municated. Guert seemed highly pleased at this success ; and 
he left me, promising to be punctual to his hour. In the mean 
time we had to dine. 

The dinner proved a good one ; and, as Mr. Worden re- 
marked, it was quite lucky that the principal dish was venison, 
a meat that was so easy of digestion, as to promise no great 
obstacle to the accommodation of the supper. He should 
dine on venison, therefore ; and he advised all three of us to 
follow his example. But certain Dutch dishes attracted the 
eye and taste of Dirck ; while Jason had alighted on a hash, 
of some sort or other, that he did not quit until he had effec- 
tually disposed of it. As for myself, I confess, the venison 
was so much to my taste, that I stuck by the parson. We had 
our wine, too, and left the table early, in order not to interfere, 
with the business of the night. 

After dinner it was proposed to walk out in a body, to make 
a further examination of the place, and to see if we- could not 
fall in with an army contractor, who might be disposed to re- 
lieve Dirck and myself of some portion of our charge. Luck 



182 SATAN STOE. 

again threw us in the way of Guert Ten Eyck, who seemed to 
live in the public street. In the course of a brief conversation 
that took place, as a passing compliment, I happened to men- 
tion a wish to ascertain where one might dispose of a few 
horses, and of two or three sleigh-loads of flour, pork, etc., etc. 
"My dear Mr. Littlepage," said Guert, with a frank smile 
and a friendly shake of the hand, "I am delighted that you 
have mentioned these matters to me ; I can take you to the 
very man you wish to see ; a heavy army-contractor, who is 
buying up every thing of the sort he can lay his hands on." 

Of course, I was as much delighted as Guert could very well 
be, and left my party to proceed at once to the contractor's 
office, with the greatest alacrity ; Dirck accompanying me. As 
we went along, our new friend advised us not to be very back- 
ward in the way of price since the king paid in the long run. 

"Rich dealers ought to pay well," he added; "and, I can 
tell you, as a useful thing to know, that orders came on, no 
later than yesterday, to buy up every thing of the sort that 
offered. Put sleigh and harness, at once, all in a heap, on the 
king's servants." 

I thought the idea not a bad one, and promised to profit by 
it. Guert was as good as his word, and I was properly intro- 
duced to the contractor. My business was no sooner mentioned, 
than I was desired to send a messenger round to the stables, 
in order that my conveyance, team, etc., might make their 
appearance. As for the articles that Avere still on the road, I 
had very little trouble. The contractor knew my father, and 
he no sooner heard that Mr. Littlepage, of Satanstoe, Avas the 
owner of the provisions, than he purchased the whole on the 
guaranty of his name. For the pork I was to receive two half- 
joes the barrel, and for the flour one. This was a good sale. 
The horses would be taken, if ser\dceable, as the contractor did 
not question, as also the lumber sleighs, though the prices could 
not be set until the different animals and objects were seen and 
examined. 

It is amazing what war will do for commerce, as well as what 



SATAN STOE. 183 

it does against it ! The demand for every thing that the judg- 
ment of my father had anticipated, was so great, that the con- 
tractor told me very frankly the sleighs would not be unloaded 
at Albany at all, but would be sent on north, on the line of the 
expected route of the army, so as to anticipate the disappear- 
ance of the snow and the breaking up of the roads. 

"You shall be paid liberally for your teams, harness and 
cleighs," he continued, " though no sum can be named until I see 
them. These are not times when operations are to be retarded 
on account of a few joes more or less, for the king's service 
must go on. I very well know that Major Littlepage and Col- 
onel Follock both understand what they are about, and have 
sent us the right sort of things. The horses are very likely a 
little old, but are good for one campaign ; better than if 
younger, perhaps, and were they colts, we could get no more 
than that out of them. These movements in the woods destroy 
man and beast, and cost mints of money. Ah ! there comes 
your team." 

Sure enough, the sleigh drove round from the tavern, and we 
all went out to look at the horses, etc. Guert now became an 
important person. On the subject of horses he was accounted 
an oracle, and he talked, moved, and acted like one in all 
respects. The first thing he did was to step up to the animal's 
head, and to look into the mouth of each in succession. The 
knowing way in which this was done, the coolness of the inter- 
ference, and the fine manly form of the intruder, would have 
given him at once a certain importance and a connection with 
what was going on, had not his character for judgment in horse- 
flesh been well established, far and near, in that quarter of the 
country. 

"Upon my word, wonderfully good mouths!" exclaimed 
Guert, when through. "You must have your grain ground, 
Mr. Littlepage, or the teeth never could have stood it so well !" 
. " What age do you call the animals, Guert?" demanded the 
contractor. 

" That is not so easily told, sir. I admit that they arc aged 



184 SATANSTOE. 

horses ; but they may be eight, or nine, and even ten^ as for 
•what can be told by their teeth. By the looks of their limbs, I 
should judge they might be nine, coming grass." 

"The near horse is eleven," I said, "and the off horse is 
supposed to be " 

"Poh! poh! Littlepage," interrupted Guert, making signs 
to me to be quiet, " you may think the off horse ten, but I 
should place him at about nine. His teeth are excellent, and 
there is not even a wind-gall on his legs. There is a cross of 
the Flemish in that beast." 

"Well, and what do you say the pair are worth. Master 
Guert ?" demanded the contractor, who seemed to have a cer- 
tain confidence in his friend's judgment, notwithstanding the 
recklessness and freedom of his manner. " Twelve half-joes for 
them both?" 

"That will never do, Mr. Contractor," answered Guert, 
shaking his head. " In times like these, such stout animals, 
and beasts too in such heart and condition, ought to bring 
fifteen." 

" Fifteen let it be then, if Mr. Littlepage assents. Now for 
the sleigh, and harness, and skins. I suppose Mr. Littlepage 
will part with the skins too, as he can have no use for them 
without the sleigh ?" 

"Have you, Mr. Contractor?" asked Gnert, a little abruptly. 
" That bear-skin fills my eye beautifully, and if Mr. Littlepage 
will take a guinea for it, here is his money." 

As this was a fair price, it was accepted, though I pressed 
the skin on Guert as a gift, in remembrance of our accidental 
acquaintance. This offer, however, he respectfully, but firmly 
resisted. And here I will take occasion to say, lest the reader 
be misled by what is met with in works of fiction, and other 
light and vain productions, that in all my dealings, and future 
connection with Guert, I found him strictly honorable in money 
matters. It is true, I would not have purchased a horse on his 
recommendation, if he owned the beast ; but we all know how 
the best men yield in their morals when they come to deal in 



SATAN STOE. 1S5 

horses. I should scarcely Lave expected Mr. AVorden to be 
orthodox, in making such bargains. But on all other subjects 
connected with money, Guert Ten Eyck was one of the honestest 
fellows I ever dealt with. 

The contractor took the sleigh, harness, and skins, at seven 
more half-joes ; making twenty-three for the whole outfit. This 
was certainly receiving two half-joes more than my father had 
expected ; and I owed the gain of sixteen dollars to Guert' s 
friendly and bold interference. As soon as the prices w^ere 
settled, the money was paid me in good Spanish gold ; and I 
handed over to Dirck the portion that properly fell to his fath- 
er's share. As it was understood that the remaining horses, 
sleighs, harness, provisions, etc., were to be taken at an apprai- 
sal, the instant they arrived, this hour's work relieved my Mend 
and myself from any further trouble on the subject of the prop- 
erty entrasted to our care. And a relief it was to be so well 
rid of a responsibility that was as new as it was heavy to each 
of us. 

The reader will get some idea of the pressure of affairs, and 
how necessary it was felt to be on the alert in the month of 
March — a time of the year when twenty -four hours might bring 
about a change in the season — by the circumstance that the 
contractor sent his new purchase to be loaded up from the door 
of his oflace, with orders to proceed on north, with supplies for 
a depot that he was making as near to Lake George as was 
deemed prudent ; the French being in force at Ticonderoga and 
Grown Point, two posts at the head of Champlain ; a distance 
considerably less than a hundred miles from Albany. What- 
ever was forwarded as far as Lake George while the snow lasted 
could then be sent on with the army, in the contemplated oper- 
ations of the approaching summer, by means of the two lakes, 
and their northern outlets, 

"Well, Mr. Littlepage," cried Guert, heartily; ^^ that affair 
is well disposed of. You got goot prices, and I hope the king 
has got goot horses. They are a little venerable, perhaps ; but 
what of that ? The array would knock up the best and youngest 



186 SATANSTOE. 

beast in the colony, in one campaign in tlie woots ; and it can 
do no more with the oldest and worst. Shall we walk rount 
into the main street, gentlemen ? This is about the hour when 
the young ladies are apt to start for their afternoon sleighing." 

" I suppose the ladies of Albany are remarkable for their 
beauty, ^Ir. Ten Eyck," I rejoined, wishing to say something 
agreeable to a man who seemed so desirous of serving me. "The 
specimens I saw in crossing the river this morning, would in- 
duce a stranger to think so." 

" Sir," replied Guert, walking toward the great avenue of 
the town, "we are content with our ladies, in general, for they 
are charming, warm-hearted and amiable ; but there has been 
an anival among us this winter, from your part of the colony, 
that has almost melted the ice on the Hudson !" 

My heart beat quicker, for I could only think of one being 
of her sex, as likely to produce such a sensation. Still, I could 
not abstain from making a direct inquiry on the subject. 

"From our part of the colony, Mr. Ten Eyck ! — You mean 
from New York, probably V 

" Yes, sir, as a matter of course. There arc several beauti- 
ful English women who have come up with the army ; but no 
colonel, major, or captain, has brought such paragons with him 
as Herman Mordaunt, a gentleman who may be known to you 
by name?" 

"Personally too, sir. Herman Mordaunt is even a kinsman 
of Dirck FoUock, my friend here." 

"Then is Mr. FoUock to be envied, since he can call cousin 
with so charming a young lady as Anneke Mordaunt." 

"True sir, most true!" I interrupted, eagerly; "Anne Mor- 
daunt passes for the sweetest girl in York !" 

" I do not know that I should go quite as far as that, Mr. 
Littlepage," returned Guert, moderating his warmth, in a man- 
ner that a little surprised me, though his handsome face still 
glowed with honest, natural admiration ; " since there is a Miss 
Mary Wallace in her company, that is quite as much thought 
of, here in Albany, as hei friend Miss Mordaunt." 



SATANSTOE. 187 

Mary Wallace ! The idea of comparing the silent, thought- 
ful, excellent though she were, Mary Wallace, with Anneke 
could never have crossed my mind. Still, Mary Wallace cer- 
tainly was a very charming girl. She was even handsome ; 
had a placid, saint-like character of countenance that had often 
struck me, singular beauty and development of form, and, in 
any other company than that of Anneke' s, might well have 
attracted the first attention of the most fastidious beholder. 

And Gucrt Ten Eyck admired — perhaps loved, Mary Wallace ! 
Here, then, was fresh evidence how much we are all inclined to 
love our opposites ; to form close friendships with these who 
resemble us least, principles excepted, for virtue can never cling 
to vice, and how much more interest novelty possesses in the 
human breast, than the repetition of things to which we are 
accustomed. No two beings could be less alike than Mary 
Wallace and Guert Tent Eyck ; yet the last admired the first. 

" Miss Wallace is a very charming young lady, Mr. Ten 
Eyck," I rejoined, as soon as wonder would allow me to an- 
swer, " and I am not surprised you speak of her in terms of so 
much admiration." 

Guert stopped short in the street, looked me full in the face 
with an expression of truth that could not well be feigned, 
squeezed my hand fervently, and rejoined with a strange frank- 
ness, that I could not have imitated, to be master of all I saw — 

" Admiration, Mr. Littlepage, is not a wort strong enough for 
what I feel for Mary ! I would marry her in the next hour, 
and love and cherish her for all the rest of my life. I worship 
her, and love the earth she treads on." 

"And you have told her this, Mr. Ten Eyck ?" 

" Fifty times, sir. She has now been two months in Albany, 
and my love was secured within the first week. I ofiered my- 
self too soon, I fear ; for Mary is a prutent, sensible young 
womar, and girls of that character are apt to distrust the youth 
who is too quick in his advances. They like to be served, 
sir, for seven years and seven years, as Joseph served for Poti- 
phar." 



188 SATANSTOE. 

" You mean, most likely, Mr. Ten Eyck, as Jacob served for 
Rachel." 

" Well, sir, it may be as you say, dough I t'ink that in our 
Dutch Bibles, it stands as Joseph served for Potiphar — but you 
know what I mean, Mr. Littlepage. If you wish to see the 
ladies, and will come with me, I will go to a place where Her- 
man Mordaunt's sleigh invariably passes at this hour, for the 
ladies almost live in the air. I never miss the occasion of seeing 
them." 

I had now a clue to Guert's being so much in the street. He 
was as good as his word, however, for he took a stand near the 
Dutch church, where I soon had the happiness of seeing Anneke 
and her friend driving past, on their evening's excursion. How 
blooming and lovely the former looked ! Mary Wallace's eye 
turned, I fancied understandingly, to the corner where Guert 
had placed himself, and her color deepened as she returned his 
bow. But, the start of surprise, the smile, and the lightening 
eye of Anneke, as she unexpectedly saw me, filled my soul with 
delight almost too great to be borne. 



SATANSTOE. 189 



CHAPTER XII. 

" Then the wine it gets into their heads, 
And turns the wit out of its station ; 
Nonsense gets in, in its stead, 
And their puns are now all botheration." 

The Punning Society 

GuERT Ten Eyck looked at me expressively, as the sleigh 
whirled round an angle of the building and disappeared. He 
then proposed that we should proceed. On ascending the main 
street, I was not a little surprised at discovering the sort of 
amusement that was going on, and in which it seemed to me 
all the youths of the place were engaged. By youths, I do not 
mean lads of twelve and fourteen, but young men of eighteen 
and twenty, the amusement being that of sliding down hill, or 
"coasting," as I am told it is called in Boston. The acchvity 
was quite sharp, and of suflScient length to give an impetus to 
the sled, that was set in motion at a short distance above the 
English church ; an impetus that would carry it past the Dutch 
church — a distance that was somewhat more than a quarter of a 
mile. The hand-sleds employed were of a size and construc- 
tion suited to the dimensions of those that used them ; and, as 
a matter of course, there was no New Yorker that had not 
learned how to govern the motion of one of these vehicles, even 
when gliding down the steepest descent, with the nicest delicacy 
and greatest ease. As children, or boys as late in life as four- 
teen even, every male in the colony, and not a few of the 
females, had acquired this art ; but this was the first place in 
which I had ever known adults to engage in the sport. The 
accidental circumstance of a hill's belonging to the principal 
street, joined to the severity of the winters, had rendered an 



190 SATANSTOE. 

amusement suited to grown people, that, elsewhere, was mo- 
nopolized by the children. 

By the time we had ascended as high as the English church, 
a party of young officers came down from the fort, gay with 
the glass and the song of the regimental mess. No sooner did 
they reach the starting-point, than three or four of the more 
youthful got possession of as many sleds, and off they went, 
like the shot starting from its gun. Nobody seemed to think 
it strange ; but, on the contrary, I observed that the elderly 
people looked on with a complacent gravity, that seemed to 
say how vividly the sight recalled the days of their own youth. 
I cannot say, however, that the strangers succeeded very well 
in managing their sleds, generally meeting with some stoppage 
before they reached the bottom of the hill. 

"Will you take a slide, Mr. Littlepage?" Guert demanded, 
with a courteous gravity, that showed how serious a business 
he fancied the sport. "Here is a large and strong sled that 
will carry double, and you might trust yourself with me, though 
a regiment of horse were paraded down below." 

"But are we not a little too old for such an amusement, in 
the streets of a large town, Mr. Ten Eyck?" I answered, 
doubtingly, looking round me in an uncertain manner, as 
one who did not like to adventure, even while he hesitated 
to refuse. "Those king's officers are privileged people, you 
know." 

" No man has a higher privilege to use the streets of Albany, 
than Mr. Cornelius Littlepage, sir, I can assure you. The 
young ladies often honor me with their company, and no acci- 
dent has ever happened." 

"Do the young ladies venture to ride down this street, Mr. 
Ten Eyck?" 

" Not often, sir, I grant you ; though that has oeen done, 
too, of a moonlight night. There is a more retired spot, at no 
great distance from this street, however, to which the ladies 
are rather more partial. Look, Mr. Littlepage! — There goes 
the Hon. Captain Monson, of the th, and he \^ ill be down 



SATANSTOE. 191 

the hill and up again before we are off, unless you hurry. 
Take your seat, lady-fashion, and leave me to manage the 
sled." 

What could I do ! Guert had been so very civil, was so 
much in earnest, every body seemed to expect it of me, and the 
Hon. Captain Monson was already a hundred yards on his way 
to the bottom, shooting ahead with the velocity of an arrow. 
I took my seat, accordingly, placing my feet together on the 
front round, " lady -fashion ^^ as directed. In an instant, Guert's 
manly frame was behind me, with a leg extended on each side 
of the sled, the government of which, as every American who 
has been bom north of the Potomac well knows, is effected by 
delicate touches of the heels. Guert called out to the boys for 
a shove, and away we went, like the ship that is bound for her 
" destined element," as the poets say. We got a good start, 
and left the spot as the arrow leaves its bow. 

Shall I own the truth, and confess I had a momentary pleas- 
ure in the excitement produced by the rapidity of the motion, 
by the race we were running with another sled, and by the 
skill and ease with which Guert, almost without touching the 
ground, carried us unharmed through sundry narrow passages, 
and along the line of wood-and-venison-loaded sleighs, barely 
clearing the noses of their horses. I forgot that I was making: 
this strange exhibition of myself, in a strange place, and almost 
in strange company. So rapid was our motion, however, that 
the danger of being recognized was not very great ; and there 
were so many to divide attention, that the act of folly would 
have been overlooked, but for a most untimely and unexpected 
accident. We had gone the entire length between the two 
churches with great success — several steady, grave, and respect- 
able-looking old burghers calling out, on a high key, "Veil 
done, Guert !" — for Guert appeared to be a general favorite, in 
the sense of fun and frolic at least-*- when, turning an angle of 
the old Dutch temple, in the ambitious wish of shooting past 
it, in order to run still lower, and shoot off the wharf upon the 
river, we found ourselves in imminent danger of running under 



192 SATANSTOE. 

the fore-logs of two foaming horses, that were whh-ling a sleigh 
around the same corner of the church. Nothing saved us bat 
Guert's readiness and physical power. By digging a heel into 
the snow, he caused the sled to fly round at a right angle to its 
former course, and us to fly ofi" it, heels over head, without 
much regard to the proprieties, so far as posture or grace was 
concerned. The negro who drove the sleigh pulled up, at the 
same instant, with so much force as to throw his horses on 
their haunches. The result of these combined movements was 
to cause Guert and myself to roll over in such a way as to 
regain our feet directly alongside of the sleigh. In rising to my 
feet, indeed, I laid a hand on the side of the vehicle, in order 
to assist me in the effort. 

What a sight met my eyes ! In the front stood the negro, 
grinning from ear to ear ; for he deemed every disaster that 
occurred on runners a fit subject for merriment. Who ever 
did any thing but laugh at seeing a sleigh upset ? — and it was 
consequently quite in rule to do so on seeing two overgrown 
boys roll over from a hand-sled. I could have knocked the 
rascal down, with a good will, but it would not have done to 
resent mirth that proceeded from so legitimate a cause. Had I 
been disposed to act differently, however, the strength and 
courage necessary to effect such a purpose would have been an- 
nihilated in me, by finding myself standing within three feet, 
and directly in front of Anneke Mordaunt and Mary Wallace ! 
The shame at being thus detected in the disastrous termination 
of so boyish a flight, at first nearly overcame me. How Guert 
felt I do not know, but, for a single instant, I wished him in the 
middle of the Hudson, and all Albany, its Dutch church, sleds, 
hill, and smoking burghers included, on top of him. 

" Mr. Littlepage !" burst out of the rosy lips of Anneke, in a 
tone of voice that was not to be misunderstood. 

" Mr. Guert Ten Eyck !" 'exclaimed Mary Wallace, in an ac- 
cent and manner that bespoke chagrin. 

"At your service, Miss Mary," answered Guert, who looked 
H. little sheepish at the result of his exploit, though for a reason 



SATANSTOK. 193 

I did not at first comprehend, brushing some snow from his cap 
at the same time — " At your service, now and ever, Miss Mary. 
But, do not suppose it was awkwardness that produced this 
accident, I entreat of you. It was altogether the fault of the 
boy who is stationed to give warning of sleighs below the 
church, who must have left his post. Whenever either of you 
young ladies will do me the honor to take a seat with me, I 
will pledge my character, as an Albanian, to carry her to the 
foot of the highest and steepest hill in town without disturbing 
a ribbon." 

Mary Wallace made no answer ; and I fiincied she looked a 
little sad. It is possible Anneke saw and understood this feel- 
ing, for she answered with a spirit that I had never seen her 
manifest before — 

" No, no, Mr. Ten Eyck," she said ; " when Miss Wallace 
or I wish to ride down hill, and become little girls again, we 
will trust ourselves with boys, whose constant practice will be 
likely to render them more expert than men can be, who have 
had time to forget the habits of their childhood.. Pompey, we 
will return home." 

The cold incUnation of the head that succeeded, while it was 
suflSciently gracious to preser%'e appearances, proved too plainly 
that neither Guert nor myself had risen in the estimation of his 
mistress, by this boyish exhibition of his skill with the hand- 
sled. Had either of these young ladies been Albanians, it is 
probable they would have laughed at our mishap ; but no high 
hill running directly into New York, the custom that prevailed 
at Albany did not prevail in the capital Small boys alone 
used the hand -sled in that part of the colony, while the taste 
continued longer among the more stable and constant Dutch. 
Of course, we had nothing to do but to make profound bows, 
and sufter the negro to move on. 

" There it is, Littlepage," exclaimed Guert, with a species 

of sigh ; "I shall have nothing but iced looks for the next 

week, and all for riding down hill four or five years later than 

is the rule. Every body, hereabouts, uses the hand-sled until 

9 



19-4 SATANSTOE. 

eio-litcen, or so ; and I am only fivc-and-twenty. Pray, what 
may be your age, my dear fellow ?" 

" Twenty-one, only about a montli since. I wish, Avitli all 
my heart, it were ten !" 

"Turned the corner! — well, that's unlucky; but we must 
make the best of it. My taste is for fun, and so I have ad- 
mitted to Miss Wallace, twenty times ; but she tells me that, 
after a certain period, men should look to graver things, and 
think of their country. She has lectured me already, once, 
on the subject of sliding ; though she allows that skating is a 
manly exercise." 

" When a lady takes the trouble to lecture, it is a sure sign 
she feels some interest in the subject." 

"By St. Nicholas! I never thought of that, Littlepage!" 
cried Guert, who, notwithstanding the great advantages he 
possessed in the way of face and figure, turned out to have less 
personal vanity about him than almost any man I ever mot with. 
'■'■Lectured me she has, and that more than once, too !" 

" The lady who lectures me, sir, will not get rid of mc, at 
the end of the discourse." 

" That's manly ! I like it, Littlepage ; and I like yo^i. I 
foresee we shall be great friends ; and we'll talk more of this 
matter another time. Now, Mary has spoken to me of the war, 
and hinted that a single man, like myself, with the world before 
him, might do something to make his name known in it. I 
did not like that; for a girl who loved a fellow would not wish 
to have him shot." 

"A girl who took no interest in her suitor, Mr. Ten Eyck, 
would not care whether he did any thing or not. But I must 
now quit you, being under an engagement to meet Mr. Wor- 
den at the inn, at six." 

Guert and I shook hands, for the tenth or twelfth time that 
day, parting with an understanding that he was to call for us, 
to accompany our party to the supper, at the previously ap- 
pointed hour. As I walked toward the inn, I pondered on 
what had just occurred in a most mortified temper. That 



SATANSTOE. 195 

Anneke was displeased, was only too apparent ; and I felt fear- 
ful that her displeasure was not entirely free from contempt. 
As for Guert's case, it did not strike me as being half so des- 
perate as my own ; for there was nothing unnatural, but some- 
thing quite the reverse, in women of sense and stability, when 
they admire any youth of opposite temperament — and I re- 
membered to have heard my grandfather say that such was apt 
to be the case — wishing to elevate their suitors in their pur- 
suits and characters. Had Anneke taken the pains to remon- 
strate with me about the folly of what I had done, I should 
have been encouraged ; but the cold indifference of her manner, 
not to call it contempt, cut me to the quick. It is true, Anneke 
seemed to feel most on her friend's account; but I could not 
mistake the look of surprise with which she saw me, Cornelius 
Littlepage, rise from under her sleigh, and stand brushing the snow 
from my clothes, like a great calf as I was I No man can bear 
to be rendered ridiculous in the presence of the woman he loves. 

Near the inn I met Dirck, his whole face illuminated with a 
look of pleasure. 

"I have just met Anneke and Mary Wallace !" he said, 
" and they stopped their sleigh to speak to me. Hennan 
Mordaunt has been here half the winter, and he means to remain 
most of the summer. There v/ill be no Lilacsbush this season, 
the girls told me, but Herman Mordaunt has got a house, where 
he lives with his own servants, and boils his own pot, as he 
calls it. We shall be at home there, of course, for you are such 
a favorite. Corny, ever since that affair of the lion ! As for 
Anneke, I never saw her looking so beautiful!" 

" Did Miss Mordaunt say she would be happy to see us on 
the old footing, Dirck ?" 

"Did she ? — I suppose so. She said I shall be glad to see 
you, cousin Dirck, whenever you can come, and I hope you 
will bring with you sometimes the clergyman of whom you 
have spoken." 

" But nothing of Jason Newcome or Corny Littlepage ! Tel] 
the triith at once, Dirck; my name was not mentioned?" 



196 SATANSTOE. 

"Indeed it was, t'ough; / mentioned it several times, and 
told them how long we had been on the roat, and how you trove, 
and how you had sold the sleigh and horses already, and a dozen 
other t'ings. Oh ! we talked a great deal of you, Corny ; that 
is, I dit, and the girls listened." 

" Was my name mentioned by either of the young ladies, 
Dirclc, in direct terms?" 

"To be sure: Anneke had something to say about you, 
though it was so much out of the way, I can hardly tell you 
what it was now. Oh ! I remember ; she said ' I have seen 
Mr. Littlcpage, and think he has grown since we last met ; he 
promises to make a man one of these days.' What could t'at 
mean. Corny ?" 

" That I am a fool, a great overgrown boy, and wish I had 
never seen Albany ; that's what it means. Come, let us go 
in ; Mr. Worden will be expecting us. Ila ! Who the devil's 
that, Dirck ?" 

A loud Dutch shout from Dirck broke out of him, regardless 
of the street, iind his whole face lighted up into a broad sym- 
pathetic smile. I had caught a glimpse of a sled coming down 
the acclivity we were slowly ascending, which sled glided past 
us just as I got the words out of my mouth. It was occupied 
by Jason alone, who seemed just as much charmed with the 
sport as any other gro^vn-up boy on the hill. There he went, 
the cocked-hat uppermost, the pea-green coat beneath, and the 
striped woollens and heavy plated buckles stuck out, one on 
each side, governing the movement of the sled with the readi- 
ness of a lad accustomed to the business. 

" That must be capital fun. Corny !" my companion said, 
scarce able to contain himself for the pleasure he felt. " I have 
a great mind to borrow a sled and take a turn myself." 

" Not if you intend to visit Miss Mordaunt, Dirck. Take 
my word for it, she does not like to see men following the 
pleasures of boys." 

Dirck stared at me, but being taciturn by nature, he said no- 
thing, and we entered the house. There we found Mr. Worden 



SATANSsTOE. 197 

reading over an old sermon, in readiness for bis next Sunday's 
business ; and sitting down, we began to compare notes on the 
subject of tbe town and its advantages. The divine was in 
raptures. As for the Dutch he cared little for them, and had 
seen but little of them, overlooking them in a very natural, 
metropolitan sort of way ; but he had found so many English 
officers, had heard so much from home, and had received so 
many invitations, that his campaign promised nothing but 
agreeables. We sat chatting over these matters until the tea 
was served, and for an hour or tAvo afterward. My bargains 
were applauded, my promptitude — the promptitude of Guert 
would have been more just — was commended, and I was told 
that my parents should hear the whole truth in the matter. In 
a word, our Mentor being in good humor with himself, was dis- 
posed to be in good humor with every one else. 

At the appointed hour, Guert came to escort us to the place 
of meeting. He was courteous, attentive, and as frank as the 
air he breathed, in manner. Mi". Worden took to him exces- 
sively, and it was soon apparent that he and young Ten Eyck 
tvere likely to become warm friends. 

" You must know, gentlemen, that the party to which I have 
had the honor of inviting you, will be composed of some of the 
heartiest young men in Albany, if not in the colony. We 
meet once a month, in the house of an old bachelor, who be- 
longs to us, and who will be delighted to converse with you, 
Mr. Worden, on the subject of religion. Mr. Van Brunt is 
very expert in religion,^ and we make him the umpire of all our 
disputes and bets on that subject." 

This sounded a little ominous, I thought ; but Mr. Worden 
was not a man to be frightened from a good hot supper, by 
half-a-dozen inadvertent words. He could tolerate even a 
religious discussion, with such an object in view. He walked 
on, side by side with Guert, and we were soon at the door of 
the house of Mr. Van Brunt, the Bachelor in Divinity, as I 
nicknamed him. Guert entered without knocking, and ushered 
us into the presence of our quasi host. 



198 SATAN STOE. 

We found in the room a company of just twelve, Gueit in- 
cluded ; that being the entire number of the club. It struck 
me, at the first glance, that the whole set had a sort of slide- 
down-hill aspect, and that we M'cre likely to make a night of it. 
My acquamtance with Dirck, and indeed my connection with 
the old race, had not left me ignorant of a certain peculiarity 
in the Dutch character. Sober, sedate, nay phlegmatit, as they 
usually appeared to be, their roystering Avas on a pretty high 
key, when it once fairly commenced. We thought one lad of 
the old race, down in Westchester, fully a match for two of the 
Anglo-Saxon breed, when it came to a hard set-to ; no ordinary 
fun appeasing the longings of an excited Dutchman. Tradi 
lion had let me into a good many secrets connected with theii 
excesses, and I had heard the young Albanians often mentioned 
as being at the head of their profession in these particulars. 

Nothing could be more decorous, or considerate, however, 
than our introduction and reception. The young men seemed 
particularly gratified at having a clergyman of their party, and 
I make no doubt it was intended that the evening should be 
one of unusual sobriety and moderation. I heard the word 
"Dominie" whispered from mouth to mouth, and it was easy 
to see the effect it produced. Most eyes were fastened on Van 
Brunt, a red-faced, square-built, somewhat dissolute-looking 
man of forty-five, who seemed to find his apology for associating 
with persons so much his juniors, in his habits, and possibly in 
the necessity of the case ; as men of his own years might not 
like his company. 

" And, gentlemen, it is dry business standing here looking 
at each other," observed Mr. Van Brunt; "and we will take 
a little punch, to moisten our hearts, as well as our throats. 
Guert, yon is the pitcher." 

Guert made good use of the pitcher, and each man had his 
glass of punch — a beverage then, as now, much used in the 
colony. I must acknowledge that the mixture was very know- 
ingly put together, though I had no sooner swallowed my glass, 
than I discovered it was confounded strong. Not so with 



SATANSTOE. 199 

Guert. Not only did lie swallow one glass, but lie swallowed 
Uvo, in quick succession, like a man wlio was thirsty ; standing 
at tlie time in a fine, manly, erect attitude, as one who trifled 
w'ith something that did not half tax his powers. The pitcher, 
though quite large, was emptied at that one assault, in proof of 
which it was turned bottom upward, by Guert himself. 

Conrcrsatiou followed, most of it being in English, out of 
compliment to the Dominie, who was not supposed to under- 
stand Dutch. This was an error, however, Mr. Worden mak- 
ing out tolerably well in that language, when he tried. I was 
felicitated on the bargains I had made with the contractor ; and 
many kind and hospitable attempts were made to Avelcome me 
in a frank, hearty manner among strangers. I confess I Avas 
touched by these honest and sincere endeavors to put me at 
my ease, and when a second pitcher of punch was • brought 
round, I took another glass with right good will, while Guert, 
as usual, took two ; though the liquor he drank, I had many 
occasions to ascertain subsequently, produced no more visible 
eflfect on him, in the way of physical consequences, than if he 
had not swallowed it. Guert was no drunkard, far from it ; he 
could only drink all near him under the table, and remain firm 
in his chair himself. Such men usually escape the imputation 
of being sots, though they are very apt to pay the penalty of 
their successes at the close of their career. These are the men 
who break down at sixty, if not earlier, becoming slibject to 
paralysis, indigestion, and other similar evils. 

Such was the state of things, the company gradually getting 
into a very pleasant humor, when Guert was called out of the 
room by one of the blacks, who bore a most ominous physiog- 
nomy while making his request. He was gone but a moment, 
when he returned with a certain sort of consternation painted 
in his own handsome face. Mr. Van Brunt was called into 
a comer, where tw^o or three more of the principal persons 
present soon collected, in an earnest, half-whispered discourse. 
I was seated so near this grouj:), as occasionally to overhear a 
i^vf expressions, though to get no clear clue to its meaning. 



200 SATAN STOE. 

The words I overlicard were " old Cuyler" — "capital supper* 
— " venison and ducks" — " partridge and quails" — ** knows 
us all" — "never do" — "Dominie the man" — "strangers" — 
" how to do it ?" and several other similar expressions, which 
left a vague impression on my mind that our supper was in 
great peril from some cause or other ; but what that cause was 
I could not learn. Gucrt was evidently the principal person 
in this consultation, every body appearing to listen to his sug- 
gestions with respect and attention. At length our friend came 
out of the circle, and in a courteous, self-possessed manner 
communicated the difficulty in the following words: 

"You must know. Rev. Mr. Worden, and Mr, Littlepage, 
and Mr. Follock, and Mr. Newcorae, that we have certain cus- 
toms of our own, among ns youths of Albany, that perhaps are 
not familiar to you gentlemen nearer the capital. Tlie trut' is, 
we are not always as wise and sober as our parents, and gi*and- 
parcnts in particular, could w-ish us to be. It is t' ought a 
good thing among us sometimes, to rummage the hen-roosts 
and poultry -yards of the burghers, and to sup on the fruits of 
such a forage. I do not know how it is with you, gentlemen ; 
but I will own, that to me, ducks and geese got in this inno- 
cent, game-like way, taste sweeter than when they are bought 
in the market-hall ; our own supper for to-night was a hoiujhl 
supper, but it has become the victim of a little enlargement 
of the practice I have mentioned." 

"How! — how's that, friend Ten Eyck?" exclaimed Mr. 
Worden, in no affected consternation. " The siqtjier a victim, 
do you say ?" 

" Yes, sir ; to be frank at once, it is gone ; gone to a pullet, 
a steak, and a potatoe. They have not left us a dish !" 

"They !" echoed the parson — " and who can they be ?" 

" That is a point yet to be ascertained, for the operation has 
been carried on in so delicate and refined a way, that none of 
our blacks know any thing of the matter. It seems there was a 
cry of fire just noAV, and it took every one of the negroes into the 
street; during which all our game has been put up, and has flown." 



SATAN STOE. 201 

"Bless me! bless mo! what a calamity! -wliat a rascally 
theft ! Did you not mark it down ?" 

" No, sir, I am sony to say we have not ; nor do wo apply 
such hard names to a frolic, even when we lose our supper by 
it. It is the act of some of our associates and friends, who 
hope to feast at our expense to-night; and who will, gentlemen, 
unless you consent to aid us in recovering our lost dishes." 

** Aid you, my dear sir — I will do any thing you can wish — 
what will you have me attempt ? Shall I go to the fort, and 
ask for succor from the army ?" 

" No, sir ; our object can be effected short of t'at. I am 
quite certain we can find what we want, only two or three doors 
from this, if you will consent to lend us a little, a very little of 
your assistance." 

" Name it — name it, at once, for Ileaven's sake, Mr. Guert. 
The dishes must be getting cold, all this time," cried Mr. Wor- 
dcn, jumping up with alacrity, and looking about him for his 
hat and cloak. 

" The service we ask of you, gentlemen, is just this," rejoined 
Gucrt, with a coolness that, when T came to reflect on the events 
of that night, has always struck mo as singularly astonishing. 
"Our supper, and an excellent one it is, is close at hand, as 1 
have said. Nothing will be easier than to get it on our own 
table, in the next room, could we only manage to get old 
Doortjc off duty, and detain her for five minutes at the area 
gate of her house. She knows every one of us, and would 
smell a rat in a minute, did we show ourselves ; but Mr. AVordcn 
and Mr. Littlcpage, here, might amuse her for the necessary 
time, Avithout any trouble. She is remai'kably fond cf Domi- 
nies, and would not be able to trace you back to this house, 
leaving us to eat our supper in peace. After t^it, no one cares 
for the rest." 

"I'll do it! — I'll do it!" cried Mr. Worden, hurrying into 
the passage, in quest of his hat and cloak. " It is no more than 
just that you should have your own, and the supper will be 
cither eaten, or overdone, should we go for constables." 



202 SATANSTOE. 

"No fear of constables, Mr. Worden, we never employ <hcm 
in our poultry wars. All we, who Avill get th-c supper back 
again, can expect, will be a little hot water, or a skirmish with 
our friends." 

The details of the movement were now intelligibly and clearly 
settled. Guert was to head a party provided with large clothes- 
baskets, who were to enter the kitchen during Doortje's absence, 
and abstract the dishes, which could not yet be served, as all in 
Albany, of a certain class, sat down to supper at nine precisely. 
As for Doortje, a negro who was in the house, in waiting on 
one of the guests, his master, would manage to get her out to 
the area gate, the house having a cellar kitchen, where it would 
depend on Mr. Worden to detain her, three or four minutes. 
To my surprise, the parson entered on the execution of the wild 
scheme with boyish eagerness, affirming that he could keep the 
woman half an hour, if it were necessary, by delivering her a 
lecture on the importance of observing the eighth command- 
ment. As soon as the preliminaries were thus arranged, the 
two parties proceeded on their respective duties, the hour 
admonishing us of the necessity of losing no time unnecessarily. 

I did not like this affair from the first, the experiment of 
sliding down hill having somewhat weakened my confidence 
in Guert Ten Eyck's judgment. Nevertheless, it would not do 
for me to hold back, when Mr. Worden led, and, after all, there 
was no great harm in recovering a supper that had been ab- 
stracted from our own house. Guert, did not proceed, like 
ourselves, by the street, but he went with his party^ out of a 
back gate into an alley, and was to enter the house he assailed, 
by means of a similar gate in its rear. Once in that yard, the 
access to the kitchen, and the retreat, were very easy, provided 
the cook could be drawn away from her charge at so important 
a moment. Every thing, therefore, depended on the address 
of the young negro who was in the house, and ourselves. 

On reaching the gate of the area, we stopped while our negro 
descended to invite Doortje forth. This gave us a moment to 
oxamine the building. The liousc was large, much larger than 



SATAN ST OE. 20.'3 

those round it, aud what struck mc as unusual, there was a 
lighted hamp over the door. This looked as if it might be a 
sort of tavern, or eating-house, and rendered the whole thing 
more intelligible to me. Our roystering plunderers doubtless 
intended to sup on their spoils at that tavern. 

The negro was gone but a minute, when he came out with a 
young black of his own sex, a servant whom he was leading off 
his post, on some pretence of his own, and was immediately 
followed by the cook. Doortje made many courtesies as soon 
as she saw the cocked hat and black cloak of the Dominie, beg- 
ging his pardon and asking his pleasure, Mr. Worden now 
began a grave and serious lecture on the sin of stealing, holding 
the confounded Doortje in discourse quite three minutes. In 
vain the cook protested she had taken nothing; that her mas- 
ter's property was sacred in her eyes, and ever had been ; that 
she never gave away even cold meats without an order, and 
that she could not imagine why she was to be talked to in this 
way. To give him his due, Mr. Worden performed his part to 
admiration, though it is true he had only an ignorant wench, 
who was aAved by his profession, to manage. At length wo 
heard a shrill whistle from the alley, the signal of success, when 
Mr. Worden wished Doortje a solemn good-night, and walked 
away with all the dignity of a priest. In a minute or two we 
w^ere in the house again, and were met by Guert with cordial 
shakes of the hand, thanks for our acceptable services, and a 
summons to supper. It appears that Dooi-tje had actually 
dished up every thing, all the articles standing before a hot fire 
waiting only for the clock to strike nine to be served. In this 
state, then, the only change the supper had to undergo, was to 
bring it a short distance through the alley and to place it on 
our table, instead of that for which it was so lately intended. 

Notwithstanding the rapidity with which the changes had 
been made, it would not have been very easy for a stranger to 
detect any striking irregularity in OTir feast. It is true, there 
were two sets of dishes on the table, or rather dishes of two 
fliflercnt sets; but the ducks, gnmc, etc., were not only ju-operly 



204 SATANSTOE. 

cooked, but were waiTU and good. To work every body went, 
therefore, with an appetite, and for five minutes little was heard 
beyond the clatter of knives and forks. Then came the drink- 
ing of healths, and finally the toasts, and the songs, and the 
stories. 

Guert sang capitally, in a fine, clear, sweet, manly voice, and 
he gave us several airs with words both in English and Dutch. 
He had just finished one of these songs, and the clapping of 
hands was still loud and warm, when the young man called on 
Mr. Worden for a lady, or a sentiment. 

"Come, Dominie," he called out, for by this time the feast 
had produced its familiarity — " Come, Dominie, you have 
acquitted yourself so avcH as a lecturer, that we are all dying 
to hear you preach." 

"A lady do you say, sir?" asked the parson, who was as 
merry as any of us. 

"A laty — a laty" — shouted six or seven at once. "The 
Tominie's laty— the Tominie's laty." 

"Well, gentlemen, since you will have it so, you shall have 
one. You must not complain if she prove a little venerable — 
but I give you " Mother Church.' " 

This produced a senseless langh, as such things usually do, 
and then followed my turn. Mr. Van Brunt very formally 
called on me for a lady. After pausing a moment, I said, as I 
flatter myself, with spirit : 

"Gentlemen, I will give you another almost as heavenly — 
Miss Anneke Mordaunt!" 

"Miss Anneke Mordaunt!" was echoed round the table, and 
I soon discovered that Anneke was a general favorite, and a 
very common toast already at Albany. 

"I shall now ask Mr. Guert Ten Eyck for his lady," I said, 
as soon as silence was restored, there being very little pause 
between the cups that night. 

This appeal changed the whole character of the expression 
of Guert's face. It became grave in an instant, as if the recol- 
lection of her whose name he was about to utter produced a 



8ATANST0E, 



105 



pause in his almost fierce mirth. lie colored, then raised his 
eyes and looked sternly round as if to challenge denial, and 
gave : 

" Miss Mary Wallace." 

"Ay, Gucrt, we are used to that name, now," said Van 
Brunt, a little dryly. " This is the tenth time I have heard it 
from you within two months." 

"You will be likely to hear it twenty more, sir; for I shall 
give Mary Wallace, and nobody but Mary Wallace, while the 
lady remains Mary Wallace. How, now, Mr. Constable ! 
What may be the reason we have the honor of a visit from 
you at this time of night ?"* 

* In this whole affair of the supper, the render will find incidents that bear a strik- 
ing resemblance to certain local characteristics portrayed by Mrs. Grant, of Leggan, 
in her Memoirs of an American Lady; thus corroborating ttic fidelity of the pictures 
of our ancient manners, as given by that respectable writer, by the unquestioned au- 
thority of Mr. Cornelius Littlcpagc. — Editor. 




200 SATANSTOE. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

"Masters, it is proved already 
That you are little better than false knaves; 
And it will go near to be thought so, shortly." 

DoGIiEKRT. 

The sudden appearance of tlie city constable, a functionary 
^vllose person was not unknown to most of tlie company, 
brought every man at table to his feet, the Rev. Mr. Worden, 
Dirck, and myself, included. For my own part, I saAV no par- 
ticular reason for alarm, though it at once struck me that this 
visit might have some connection with the demolished supper, 
since the law docs not, in all cases, suffer a man to reclaim even 
his own, by trick or violence. As for the constable himself, a 
short, compact, snub-nosed, Dutch-built person, who spoke 
English as if it disagreed with his bile, he was the coolest of 
the whole party. 

"Veil, Mr. Guert," he said, with a sort of good-natured 
growl of authority, "here I moost come ag'in ! Mr. Mayor 
Avould be happy to see you, and ter Tominie, dat ist of your 
party ; and ter gentleman dat acted as clerk, ven he lectured 
old Doortje, Mr. Mayor's cook." 

Mr. Mayor's cook! here then, a secret was out, Avith a ven- 
geance ! Guert had not reclaimed his own lost supper, which, 
having passed into the hands of the Philistines, was hopelessly 
gone ; but he had actually stolen and eaten the supper prepared 
for the mayor of Albany — Peter Cuyler, a man of note and 
standing in all respects ; a functionary who had held his office 
from time immemorial ; — the lamp was the symbol of authority, 
and not the sign of an inn, or an eating-house ; — the supper, 
moreover, was never 2:)repared for one man, or one family, but 
had certainly been got up for the honorable treatment of a 



SATANSTOE. 207 

goodly company — fifteen stout men had mainly appeased their 
appetites on it ; and the fragments were that moment under 
discussion among half-a-dozen large-mouthed, shining negro 
faces, in the kitchen ! Under circumstances lite these, I looked 
inquiringly at the Rev. Mr. Worden — and the Eev. Mr. Wor- 
den looked inquiringly at me. There was no apparent remedy, 
however; but, after a brief consultation with Guert, we, the 
summoned parties, took our hats, and followed Dogberry to 
the residence of the mayor. 

" You are not to be uneasy, gentlemen, at this little inter- 
ruption of our amusements," said Guert, dropping in between 
Mr. Worden and myself, as we proceeded on our way, ''these 
things happening very often among us. You are innocent, you 
know under all circumstances, since you supposed that the 
supper was our own — brought back by direct means, instead of 
having recourse to the shabby delays of the law." 

"And whose supper may this have been, sir, that wc have 
iust eaten?" demanded Mr. Worden. 

" Why, there can be no harm, now, in telling you the trut', 
Dominie ; and I will OAvn, therefore, it belonged in law to Mr. 
Mayor Cuyler. There is no great danger, however, as you will 
see, when I come to explain matters. You must know that the 
mayor's Avife was a Schuyler, and my mother has some of that 
blood in her veins, and we count cousins as far as we can see, 
in Albany. It is just supping with one's relations, a little out 
of the common way, as you will perceive, gentlemen." 

"Have you dealt fairly with Mr. Littlepage and myself, sir, 
in this affair r' Mr. Worden asked, a little sternly. "I might, 
with great propriety, lecture to a cook, on the eighth com- 
mandment, when that cook was a party to robbing you of your 
supper; but how shall I answer to his honor Mr. Mayor, 
on the charge which will now be brought against me ? It is 
not for myself, Mr. Guert, that I feel so much concern, as for 
the credit and reputation of my sacred office, and that, too, 
among your disfiplcs of the schools of Leydcn." 

"Leave it all to mc, my dear Dominie — leave it all to me," 



208 SATANSTOE. 

answered Gucrt, well disposed to sacrifice himself, rather than 
permit a friend to suffer. "I am used to these little matters, 
and will take care of you." , 

"I will answer for t' at," put in the constable, looking over 
his shoulder. " No young fly-away in AWponny hast more 
knowletge in t'ese matters t'an Mr. Guert, here. If any potty 
can draw his heat out of the yoke, Mr. Guert can. Yaas — 
yaas — he know all about t'ese little matters, sure enough." 

Tills was encouraging, of a certainty ! Our associate was so 
well known for his tricks and frolics, that even the constable 
who took him calculated largely on his address in getting out 
of scrapes ! I did not apprehend that any of us were about to 
be tried and convicted of a downright robbery ; for I knew how 
far the Dutch carried their jokes of this nature, and how toler- 
ant the seniors were to their juniors ; and especially how much 
all men are disposed to regard any exploit of the sort of that in 
which wc had been engaged, when it has been managed adroitly, 
and in a way to excite a laugh. Still, it was no joke to rob a 
mayor of his supper ; these functionaries usually passing to their 
offices through the probationary grade of alderman.* Guert 
was not free from uneasiness, as was apparent' by a question ho 
put to the officer, on the steps of Mr. Cuylcr's house, and under 
the very light of the official lamj^. 

" Uow is the old gentleman, this evening, Hans?" the prin- 
cipal asked, with some little concern in his manner. " I hope 
he and his company have supped ?" 

"Veil, t'at is more t'an I can telt you, Mr. Guert. lie look't 
more as like himself, when he hat the horse t'ieves from New 
Euglant taken up, t'an he hast for many a tay. 'Twas most 

* The American mayor is usually a difiFerent person from the English mayor. Until 
within the last fivc-and-twenty or thirty years, the mayor of New York was invariably 
a man of social and political importance, belonging strictly to the higher class of soci- 
ety. The same was true of the mayor of Albany.— At the present time, the rule has 
been so far enlarged, as to admit of a selection from all the more reputable classes, 
without any rigid adherence to the highest. The elective principle has produced tho 
change. During the writer's boyhood, Philip Van Rensselaer, tho brother of tho 
late patroon, was so long mayor of Albany, as to be universally known by the sobri- 
quet of "The Mayor.'' — ^Ebitoe. 



SATANSTOE. 209 

too pat, Mr. Guert, to run away wit' the mayor's o^vn supper ! 
I coult have tolt you who hast your own tucks and venison." 

"I wish you had, Hans, with all my heart; but we were 
Lard pushed, and had a strange Dominie to feed. You know 
a body must provide well for company." 

" Yaas, yaas ; I understants it, and knows how you moost 
have peen nonplush't to do sich a t'ing; put it was mo-o-st too 
pat. Veil, we are all young, afore we live to be olt — t'at efFery 
potty knows." 

By this time the door was open, and we entered. Mr. Mayor 
had issued orders we should all be shown into the parlor, 
where I rather think, from what subsequently passed, he in- 
tended to cut up Guert a little more than common, by exposing 
him before the eyes of a particular person. At all events, the 
reader can judge of my hon-or, at finding that the party whose 
supper I had just helped to demolish, consisted, in addition to 
three or four sons and daughters of the house, of Herman Mor- 
daunt, Mary Wallace, and Anneke ! Of course, every body 
knew what had been done ; but, until we entered the room, Mr. 
Mayor alone knew who had done it. Of Mr. Worden and my- 
self even, he knew no more than he had learned from Doortjc's 
account of the matter ; and the cook, quite naturally, had re- 
presented us as rogues feigning our divinity. 

Guert was a thoroughly manly fellow, and he did us the 
justice to enter the parlor first. Poor fellow ! I can feel for 
him, even at this distance of time, when his eye first fell on 
Mary Wallace's pallid and distressed countenance. It could 
scarcely be less than I felt myself, when I first beheld Anneke's 
flushed features, and the look of offended propriety that I fancied 
to be sparkling in her estranged eye. 

Mr. Mayor evidently regarded Mt. Worden with surprise, as 
indeed he did me ; for, instead of strangers, he probably ex- 
pected to meet two of those delinquents whose faces were 
familiar to him, by divers similar jocular depredations, commit- 
ted within the limits of his jurisdiction. Then the circumstance 
that Mr. Worden was a real Dominie, could not be questioned 



210 SATAN STOE. 

by those who saw him standing, as he did, face to &ce, with all 
the usual signs of his sacred office in his dress and air. 

"I believe there must be some mistake here, constable!" 
exclaimed Mr. Mayor. " Why have you brought these two 
strange gentlemen along with Guert Ten Eyck?" 

" My ortcrs, Mr. Mayor, wast to pring Doortje's 'rapscallion 
Tominic,' and his 'rapscallion frient;' and t'at is one, and t'is 
ist t'ot'er." 

■ " This gentleman has the appearance of being a real clergy- 
man, and that too of the church of England." 

" Yaas, Mr. Mayor, t'at is yoost so. He wilt preach fifteen 
minutes wit' out stopping, if you wilt give him a plack gownt ; 
and pray an hour in a white shirt."* 

"Will you do me the favor, Guert Ten Eyck, to let me have 
the names of the strangers I have the pleasure to receive," said 
the mayor, a little authoritatively. 

" Cciiainly, Mr. Mayor; certainly, and with very great pleas- 
ure. I should have done this at once, had we been ushered 
into your house by any one but the city constable. Whenever 
I accompany that gentleman anywhere, I always wait to ascer- 
tain my welcome." 

Guert laughed with some heart at this allusion to his own 
known delinquencies, while Mr. Cuyler only smiled. I could see, 
notwithstanding the severe measures to which he had resorted 
in this particular case, that the last was not unfriendly to the 
first, and that our friend Guert had not fallen literally among 
robbers, in being brought to the place where we were. 

"This reverend dominie," continued Guert, as soon as he 
had had his laugh, and had ventured to cast a short, inquiring 
glance at jMary Wallace, " is a gentleman from England, Mr. 



* This opinion of the constable's must refer to the notion common amongst the non- 
Episcopal sects, that the value of spiritual provender was to be measured by the 
quantity. Pi-eaching, however, might be-overdone in the Dutch Reformed churches, 
for, quite within my recollection, a half-hour glass stood on the pulpit of the Dutch 
edifice named in the text, to regulate the dominie's wind. It was said it might bo 
turned once with impunity; but woe betide him who should so far trespass on his 
people's patience as to presume to turn it twice. — Editou. 



SATAN STOE. 211 

Mayor, ■who is to preach in St. Peter's the day after to-morrow, 
by special invitation from the chaplain ; Avhen, I make no doubt, 
we shall all be much edified ; Miss Mary Wallace among the 
rest, if she will do him the honor to attend the service — good, 
and angelic, and foi-r/ivin'r/, as I know she is by nature." 

This speech caused all eyes to turn on the young lady, Avhose 
face crimsoned, though she made no reply. I now felt satisfied 
that Guert's manly, frank, avowed, and sincere admiration had 
touched the heart of Mary Wallace, while her reason con- 
demned that which her natural tenderness encouraged ; and 
the struggle in her mind was then, and long after, a subject of 
curious study with me. As for Anneke, I thought she resented 
this somewhat indiscreet, not to say indelicate though indirect 
avowal of his feelings tOAvard his mistress ; and that she looked 
on Guert with even more coldness than she had previously done. 
Neither of the ladies, however, said any thing. During this 
dumb-show, Mr. Cuyler had leisure to recov;er from the surprise 
of discovering that one of his prisoners was really a clergyman, 
and to inquire who the other might be. 

" That gentleman then, is in fact a clergyman!" he ansAver- 
ed. " You have forgotten to name the other, Guert." 

" This is !Mr. Corny Littlepage, Mr. Mayor — the only son of 
Mr. Littlepage, of Satanstoe, Westchester." 

The mayor looked a little puzzled, and I believe felt some- 
what embarrassed as to the manner in which he ought to pro- 
ceed. The incursion of Guert upon his premises much exceeded 
in boldness any thing of the kind that had ever before occurred 
in Albany. It Avas common enough for.young men of his stamp 
to carry oif poultry, pigs, etc., and feast on the spoils; and 
cases had occurred, as I afterward learned, in which rival par- 
tics of these depredators preyed on each other — the same 
materials for a supper having been knoAvn to change hands tAvo 
or three times before they were consumed — but no one had 
ever presumed, previously to this evening, to make an inroad 
even on Mr. Mayor's hen-coop, much less to molest the domains 
of his cook. In the first impulse of his anger, Mr. Cuyler had 



212 SATAN STOE. 

8ent for tlie constable ; and Guert's club with its place of meet- 
ing being well known, that functionary having had many occa- 
sions to visit it, the latter proceeded thither forthwith. It is 
probable, however, a little reflection satisfied the mayor that a 
frolic could not well be treated as a larceny ; and that Guert had 
some of his own wife's blood in his veins. When he came to 
find that two respectable strangers were implicated in the afiair, 
one of whom was actually a clergyman, this charitable feeling 
was strengthened, and he changed his course of proceeding. 

" You can return home, Hans," said Mr. Mayor, very sensi- 
bly mollified in his manner. " Should there be occasion for 
your further services, I will send for you. Now gentlemen," 
as soon as the door closed on the constable, " I will satisfy you 
that old Peter Cuylcr can cover a table, and feed his friends, 
even though Guert Ten Eyck be so near a neighbor. Miss 
Wallace, will you allow me the honor to lead you to the table ? 
Mr. Wordcn will see Mrs. Cuyler, in safety, to the same place." 

On this hint, the missionary stepped forward with alacrity, 
and led Mrs. Mayoress after Mary Wallace, with the utmost 
courtesy. Guert did the same to one of the young ladies of 
the house ; Anneke was led in by one of the young men ; and 
I took the remaining young lady, who I presumed was also 
one of the family. It was very apparent we were respited ; and 
all of us thought it wisest to appear as much at our ease as 
possible, in order not to balk the humor of the principal magis- 
trate of the ancient town of Albany. 

To do Mr. Mayor justice, the lost time had been so well im- 
proved by Doortje, that, on looking around the table, I thought 
the supper to which we were thus strangely invited, was, of the 
two, the best I had seen that evening. Luckily, game was 
plenty ; and, by means of quails, partridges, oysters, venison 
patties, and other dishes of that sort, the cook had managed to 
send up quite as good a supper, at ten o'clock, as she had pre- 
viously prepared for nine. 

" I will not pretend that I felt quite at my ease, as I took 
ray seat at the table, for the second time that night. All the 



SATAN STOE. 213 

youngei" members of the party looked exceedingly grave, as if 
they could very well dispense with our company ; the old peo- 
ple alone appearing to enter into the scene with any spirit. 
Anneke did not even look at me, after the first astounded look 
given on my entrance ; nor did Mary Wallace once cast her 
eyes toward Guert, when we reached the supper-room. Mr. 
Mayor, notwithstanding, had determined to laugh off the affair ; 
and he and Mr. Worden soon became excellent friends, and 
began to converse freely and naturally. 

" Come, cousin Guert," cried Mr. Mayor, after two or three 
glasses of Madeira had still further warmed his heart, " fill, and 
pledge me — unless you prefer to give a lady. If the last, every 
body will drink to her, with hearty good will. You eat noth- 
ing, and must drink the more. 

"Ah! Mr. Mayor, I have toasted one lady, to-night, and 
cannot toast another." 

" Not present company excepted, my boy ?" 

" No, sir, not even with that license. I pledge you, with all 
my heart, and thank you, with all my heart, for this generous 
treatment, after my own foolish frolic ; but you know how it 
is, Mr. Mayor, with us Albany youths, when our pride is up, 
and a supper must be had — " 

"Not I, Guert; I know nothing about it; but should very 
well like to learn. How came you in the first place to take 
such a fancy to my cook's supper ? Did you imagine it better 
than Van Brunt's cook could give you ?" 

"The supper of Arent Van Brunt's cook has disappeared — 
gone on the hill, I fancy, among the red-coats ; and to own the 
truth, Mr. Mayor, it was yours or nothing. I had invited these 
gentlemen to pass the evening with us. One of our blacks 
happened to mention what was going on here, and hospitality 
led us all astray. It was nothing more, I do assure you, 
Mr. Mayor." 

" And so your hospitable feelings made your guests work for 
their supper, by sending them to preach to old Doortje, while 
you were dishing up my ducks and game ?" 



214 SATANSTOE. 

" Your pardon, Mr. Mayor ; Doortje had dislied up, before 
she weut to lecture. Your cook is too Avell trained to neglect 
her duty, even to hear a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Worden ! 
But, these gentlemen were quite as much deceived as the old 
woman ; for they supposed we were after our own lost goods, 
and did not know that you dwelt here ; and were as much my 
dupes as old Doortje herself. Truth obliges mo to own this 
much in their justification." 

There was a general clearing up of countenances at this frank 
avowal ; and I isaw that Anneke herself turned her looks 
inquiringly upon the speaker, and sufi'ered a smile to relieve 
the extreme gravity of her sweet countenance. From that mo- 
ment a very sensible change came over the feelings and deport- 
ment of the younger part of the company, and the conversation 
became easier and more natural. It was certainly much in our 
favor to have it known we had not boyishly and officiously 
joined in a gratuitous attempt to rob and insult this particular 
and unoffending family, but that Mr. Worden and I supposed 
we were simply aiding in getting back those things which prop- 
erly belonged to our host, and getting them back, too, in a 
manner of which the party we supposed we were acting against, 
would certainly have no right to complain, inasmuch as they had 
set the example. Guert was encouraged to go on further with 
his explanations ; which he did, in his own honest, candid man- 
ner, exculpating us, in effect, from every thing but being a little 
too much disposed to waggery, for a minister of the church 
and his pupil, who had just commenced his travels. 

Anneke's face brightened up more and more, as the expla- 
nations proceeded ; and soon after they were ended, she turned 
to me in a very gracious manner, and inquired after my mother. 
As I sat directly opposite to her, and the table was narrow, we 
could converse without attracting much attention to ourselves ; 
Mr. Mayor and his other guests keeping up a round of reason- 
ably noisy jokes, on the events of the evening, nearer the foot 
of the table. 

"You find some customs in Albany, Mr. Littlepage, that are 



SATAN STOE. 215 

i;OC known to us in New York," Anneke observed, after a few 
preliminary remarks had opened the way to further communi- 
cation. 

"I scarce know, Miss Anneke, whether you allude to what 
has occurred this evening or to what occurred this afternoon ?" 

"To both, I believe, answered Anneke, smiling, though she 
colored, as I thought, with a species of feminine vexation; "for 
certainly, one is no more a custom with us than the other." 

" I have been most unfortunate, Miss Mordaunt, in the exhi- 
bitions I have made of myself in the course of the few hours I 
have passed in this, to me, strange place. I am affaid you 
regard me as little more than an overgrown boy who has been 
permitted by his parents to leave home sooner than he ought." 

"This is your construction, and not mine, Mr. Littlepage. I 
suppose you know — but we will talk of this in the other-room, 
or at some other time." 

I took the hint, and said no more on the subject, while at 
table. Mr. Mayor, I suppose in consideration of our having 
gone through the exactions of one feast already that evening, 
permitted us to leave the supper-room much earlier than common, 
and the hour being late, the whole party broke up immediately 
afterward. Before we separated, however, Herman Mordaunt 
approached me in a friendly, free way, and invited me to come 
to his house at eight next morning to breakfast, requesting the 
pleasure of Dirck's company at the same time ; the invitation 
to the latter going through me. It is scarcely necessary to say 
how gladly I accepted, and how much I was relieved by this 
termination of an adventure that at one moment menaced me 
with deep disgrace. Had Mr. Mayor seen fit to pursue the 
affair of the abstraction cf his first supper in a serious vein, 
although the legal consequences could not probably have amount- 
ed to any thing very grave, they might prove very ridiculous ; 
and I have no doubt they would have brought about a very 
abrupt termination of my visit to the north. As it was, my 
mind was vastly relieved, as I believe was the case also with 
that of the Rev. Mr. Worden. 



216 SATANSTOE. 

"Corny," said that gentleman, after we liad "vvished Guert 
good-night, and were well on our way to the inn again, "this 
second supper has helped surprisingly to digest the first. I 
doubt if our new acquaintance here, will be likely to turn out 
very profitable to us." 

" Yet, sir, you appeared to take to him exceedingly, and I 
had thought you excellent friends." 

"I like the fellow well enough too; for he is hearty, and 
frank, and good-natured ; but there was some little policy in 
keeping on good terms with him. I'm afraid. Corny, I did 
not altogether consult the dignity of my holy oflBce, this morn- 
ing, on the ice ! It is exceedingly unbecoming in a clergyman, 
to be seen running in a public place like a schoolboy, or a 
youngster contending in a match. I thought, moreover, I over- 
heard one of those young Dutchmen call me the * Loping Dom- 
inie ;' and so, taking altogether, it struck me it would be wisest 
to keep on good terms with this Guert Ten Eyck." 

" I see your policy, sir, and it does not become me to deny 
it. As for myself, I confess I like Guert surprisingly, and shall 
not give him up easily ; though he has already got me into two 
serious scrapes in the short time we have been acquainted. 
He is a hearty, good-natured, thoughtless young fellow, who, 
Dutchman-like, when he does make an attempt to enjoy life, 
does it with all his heart." 

I then related the affair of the hand-sled to Mr. Worden, 
who gave me some of that sort of consolation, of which a man 
receives a great deal, as he elbows his way through this busy, 
selfish world. 

"Well, Corny," said my old master, "I am not certain you 
did not look more hke a fool, as you rolled over from that sled, 
than I looked while ' loping' from our friends in the sleigh !" 

We both laughed as we entered the tavern ; I, to conceal the 
vexation I really felt, and Mr. Worden, as I presume, because 
he was flattered with the belief that I must have appeared quite 
as ridiculous as himself. 

Next morning I proceeded to Herman Mordaunt's residence 



SATAN ST OE. 2l7 

a,t the earliest liour tlic rules of society would allow. I found 
the family established in one of those Dutch edifices, of which 
Albany was mainly composed, and which stood a little removed 
from the street — having a tiny yard in front, with the stooii in 
the gable, and that gable toward the yard. The battlement- 
walls of this house diminished toward the high apex of a very 
steep roof by steps, as we are all so much accustomed to see, 
and the whole was surmounted by au iron weathercock, that 
was perched on a rod of some elevation. It was always a mat- 
ter of importance with the Dutch to know which way the wind 
blew ; nor did it comport with their habits of minute accuracy, 
to trust to the usual indications of the feeling on the skin, the 
bending of branches, the flying of clouds, or the driving of 
smoke ; but they must and Avould have the certainty of a 
machine, that was constructed expressly to let them know the 
fact Smoke might err, but a weathercock would not ! 

No one was in the little parlor into which I was shown by 
the servant who admitted me to the house, and in whom I re- 
cognized Herman Mordaunt's principal male attendant, of the 
household in New York. How pleasantly did that little room 
appear to me, in the minute or two that I Avas left in it alone. 
There lay the very shawl that Anneke had on the day I met 
her in the Pinkster Field ; and a pair of gloves that it seemed 
to me no other hands but hers were small enough to wear, had 
])een thrown on the shawl, carelessly, as one casts aside a thing 
of that sort, in a hurry. A dozen other articles were put here and 
there, that denoted the habits and presence of females of refine- 
ment. But the gloves most attracted my attention, and I must 
needs rise and examine them. It is true, these gloves might 
belong to Mary Wallace, for she, too, had a pretty little hand, 
but I fancied they belonged to Anneke. Under this impression, 
I raised them to my lips, and was actually pressing them there, 
with a good deal of romantic feeling, when a light footstep in 
the room told me I was not alone. Dropping the gloves, I 
turned and beheld Anneke herself. She was regarding me 
with an expression of countenance I did not then know how to 
10 



218 SATANSTOE. 

interpret, and wLicli I now hardly Icnow Low to describe. In 
the first place, her charming countenance was suffused with 
blushes, while her eyes were filled with an expression of soft- 
ened interest, that caused my heart to beat so violently, that I 
did not know but it would escape by the channel of the throat. 
TTow near I was to declaring all I felt, at that moment; of 
throwing myself at the feet of the dear, dear creature, and of 
avowing how much and cngrossingly she had filled both my 
waking and sleeping thoughts during the last year, and of be- 
seeching her to bless the remainder of my days, by becoming my 
Avife ! Nothing prevented tliis sally, but the remark which An- 
neke made, the instant she had gracefully courtesicd, in return to 
my confused and awkward bow, and which happened to be this : 

" What do you find so much to admire in Miss Wallace's 
gloves?" asked the wilful girl, biting her lip, as I fancied, to 
suppress a smile, though her cheeks were still sufi"used, and her 
eyes continued to give forth that indescribable expression of 
bewitching softness. " It is a pair my father presented to her, 
and she wore them last evening in compliment to him." 

*' I beg pardon. Miss Mordaunt — Miss Anneke — that is — I 
beg pardon. Is there not a very delightful odor about those 
gloves — that is, I was thinking so, and was endeavoring to 
ascertain what it might be by the scent." 

" It must be the lavender with which we young ladies are so 
coquettish as to sprinkle our gloves and handkerchiefs — or it 
may be musk. Mary is rather fond of musk, though I prefer 
lavender. But what an evening -we had, Mr. Littlepage ! and 
what an introduction you have had to Albany, and most of all, 
what a master of ceremonies !" 

"Do you then dislike Guert Ten Eyck as an acquaintance, 
Miss Anneke?" 

" Far from it. It is quite impossible to dislike Guert ; he is so 
manly ; so ready to admit his own weaknesses ; so sincere in 
all he does and says ; so good-natured ; and, in short, so much 
that, were one his sister, she might wish him to be, and yet so 
much that a sister must rcgTct." 



SATANSTOE, 219 

" I tliouglit last evening that all tlie ladies felt an interest in 
him, notwithstanding the numberless wild and ill-judged things 
he does. Is he not a favorite with Miss Wallace?" 

The quick, sensitive glance that Anneke gave me, said plain- 
ly enough that my question was indiscreet, and it was no sooner 
put than it was regretted. A shadow passed athwart the sweet 
face of my companion, and a moment of deep, and, as I fancied, 
of painful thought succeeded. Then a light broke over all, a 
smile illumined her features, after which a light girlish laugh 
came to show how active were the agents within, and how 
strong was the native tendency to happiness and humor. 

" After all, Corny Littlepagc," said Anneke, turning her face 
toward me, with an indescribable character of fun and feeling so 
blended in it as fairly to puzzle me, "you must admit that your 
exploit in the hand-sled was sufficiently ridiculous to last a young 
man for some time !" 

"I confess it all, Anneke, and shall have a care how I turn 
boy again in a strange place. I am rejoiced to find, however, 
that you look upon the foolish affair of the slide as more grave 
than that of the supper, which I was fearful might involve me 
in serious disgrace." 

"Neither is very serious, Mr. Littlcpage, though the last 
might have proved awkward, had not the mayor known the ways 
of the young men of the town. They say, however, that no- 
thing so bold has ever before been attempted in that way, in 
Albany, great as are the liberties that are often taken with the 
neighbors' hen-coops." 

And she laughed, and this time it was naturally, and without 
the least restraint. 

" I hope you will not think it shabby in me, if I seem to wish 
to throw all the blame on this harum-scarum Guert Ten Eyck. 
He drew me into both affairs, and into the last, in a great 
measure, innocently and ignorantly." 

"So it is understood, and so it would be understood, the 
moment Guert Ten Eyck was found to be connected with the 
affair at all." 



220 SATANSTOE. 

"I nicay Lope, then, to be forgiven, Anneke ?" I said, hold- 
ing out a hand to imdte her to accept it as a pledge of pai 
don, 

Anneke did not prudishly decline putting her own little hand 
in mine, though I got only the ends of two or three slender 
delicate fingers ; and her color increased as she bestowed this 
grace. 

" You must ask forgiveness, Corny," she answered — I believe 
she now used this familiar name simply to show how completely 
she had forgotten the little spleen she had certainly felt at my 
untoward exhibition in the street. "You must ask forgiveness 
of those who possess the right to pardon. If Corny Littlcpage 
chooses to slide down hill, like a boy, what right has Anneke 
Mordaunt to say him nay?" 

"Every right in the world — the right of friendship — the 
right of a superior mind, of superior manners — the right that 
my—" 

"Hush! — that is Mr. Bulstrodc's footstep in the passage, 
and he will not understand this discussion on the subject of my 
manifold rights. It takes him some time, however, to throw 
aside his overcoats, and furs, and sword ; and I will just tell 
you that Guert Ten Eyck is a dangerous master of ceremonies 
for Corny Littlepage." 

" Yet, he has sense enough, feeling enough, heart enough to 
admire and love Mary Wallace." 

"Has he told you this so soon ! But I need not ask, as 
he tells his love to every one who will listen." 

"And to Miss Wallace herself, I trust, among the number. 
The man who loves, and loves truly, should not long permit its 
object to remain in any doubt of his feelings and intentions. It 
has ever appeared to me, Miss Mordaunt, as a most base and 
dastardly feeling in a man to wish to be certain of a woman's 
returning his love, before he has the manliness to let his mistress 
understand his wishes. How is a sensitive female to know 
when she is safe in yielding her afl'ections, without this frankness 
on the part of her suitor ? I'll answer for it that Gucrt Ten 



SATANSTOE. 221 

Eyclc has dealt tlius honestly and frankly with Mary Wal- 
lace." 

" That is a merit ■which cannot be denied him," answered 
Anneke, in a low, thoughtful tone of voice. " Mary has heakl 
this from his own mouth, again and again. Even my presence 
has been no obstacle to his declarations, for three times have I 
lieard him beg Mary to consider him as a suitor for her hand, 
and entreat her not to decide on his offer until he has had a 
longer opportunity to win her esteem." 

" And this you will admit, Miss Mordaunt, is to his credit, 
is manly, and like himself?" 

" It is certainly frank and honorable, Mr. Littlepage, since it 
enables Miss Wallace to understand the object of his attentions, 
and leaves nothing to doubt, or uncertainty." 

" I am glad you approve of such fair and frank proceedings ; 
— though but a moment remains to say what I wish, it will 
suffice to add, that the course Guert Ten Eyck has taken toward 
Mary Wallace, Cornelius Littlepage would wish to jiursue 
toward Anneke Mordaunt." 

Anneke started, turned pale ; then showed cheeks that were 
sufl'used with blushes, and looked at me with timid surprise. 
She made n-o answer ; though that earnest, yet timid gaze, long 
remained, and for that matter, still remains, vividly impressed 
upon my recollection. It seemed to express astonishment, 
startled sensibility, feminine bashfulness, and maiden coyness ; 
but it did not appear to me that it expressed displeasure. There 
was no time, however, to ask for explanations, since the voices 
of Herman Mordaunt and Bulstrode were now heard at the 
very door, and at the next instant both entered the room. 



222 S A T A N S T E » 



CHAPTER XIV. 

" My beautiful I my beautiful I that standest meekly by, 
With thy proudly arch'd and glossy neck, and dark and fiery eye—" 

"Thus, thus I leap upon thy back, and scour the distant plains: 
Away ! who overtakes me now, shall claim thee for his pains." 

Tub Acab to nis Steed. 

BuLSTRODE seemed happy to meet me, complaining tliat I 
had quite forgotten the satisfaction with which all New York, 
agreeably to his account of the matter, had received me the past 
spring. Of course, I thanked him for his civility , and we soon 
became as good friends as formerly. In a minute or two Mary 
Wallace joined us, and we all repaired to the breakfast-table, 
where wc were soon joined by Dirck, Avho had been detained 
by some affairs of his own. 

Herman Mordaunt and Bulstrode had the conversation prin- 
cipally to themselves for the first few minutes. Mary Wallace 
was habitually silent; but Anneke, without being loquacious, 
was sufficiently disposed to converse. This morning, however, 
she said little beyond what the civilities of the table required 
from the mistress of the house, and that little in as few words 
as possible. Once or twice I could not help remarking that 
her hand remained on the handle of a richly-chased teapot, after 
that hand had performed its office ; and that her sweet, deep 
blue eye was fixed on vacancy, or some object before her, with 
a vacant regard, in the manner of one that thought intensely. 
Each time as she recovered from these little reveries, a slight 
flush appeared ou her face, and she seemed anxious to conceal 
the involuntary ab.straction. This absence of mind continued 
until Bulstrode, who had been talking with our host on the 



SATANSTOE. 223 

subject of tlic movemciits of the army, suddenly directed liis 
discoui-so to mc. 

" I hope we owe this visit to Albany," he said, "to an in- 
U ution on your part, Mr. Littlepage, to make one among us in 
the next campaign. I hear of many gentlemen of the colonies 
who intend to accompany us in our march to Quebec." 

" That is som-ewhat farther than I had thought of going, ]\Ir. 
Bulstrode," was my answer, "inasmuch as I have never sup- 
posed the king's forces contemplated quite so distant a march. 
It is the intention of Mr. FoUock and myself to get permission 
to attach ourselves to some regiment, and to go forward, as far 
as Ticonderoga, at least ; for we do not like the idea of the 
French holding a post like that, so far within the limits of our 
own province." 

"Bravely said, sir; and I trust I shall be permitted to be 
of some assistance when the time comes to settle details. Our 
mess would always be happy to sec you ; and you knoAV that I 
am at its head, since the lieutenant-colonel has left us." 

I returned my thanks, and the discourse took another direc- 
tion. 

" I met Hari'is, as I was walking hither this morning," Bul- 
strode continued, "and he gave me, in his confused Irish — for 
I insist he is Irish, although he was born in London — but he 
gave me a somewhat queer account of a supper he was at last 
night, which he said, had been borne off by a foraging party of 
young Albanians, and brought into the barracks, as a treat to 
some of our gentlemen. This Avas bad enough, though they tell 
me a Dutchman always pardons such a frolic ; but Harris makes 
the matter much worse, by adding that the supperless party 
indemnified itself by making an attack on the kitchen of Mr. 
Mayor, and carrying off his ducks and partridges, ia a way to 
leave him without even a potato !" 

I felt that my face was as red as scarlet, and I fancied every 
body was looking at me, while Herman Mordaunt took on 
himself the office of making a reply. 

" The story docs not lose in travelling, as a matter of course," 



224 SATANSTOE. 

answered our host, " thougli it is true in the main. We all 
supped Avith Mr. Cuylcr last evening, and know that he had 
much nctore than a potato on the table." 

"All!— What, the ladies?" 

"Even to the ladies — and Mr, Littlepage in the bargain," 
returned Herman Mordaunt, casting a glance at me, and smil- 
ing. "Each and all of us will testify he not only had a plenty 
of supper, but that which was good." 

"I see by the general smile," cried Bulstrode, "that there 
is a sous cntcnclu here, and shall insist on being admitted to 
the secret." 

Herman Mordaunt now told the whole story, not being par- 
ticularly careful to conceal the more ludicrous parts, dwelling 
with some emphasis on the lecture Mr. Worden had delivered 
to Doortjc, and appealing to me to know whether I did not 
think it excellent. Bulstrode laughed, of course ; though I 
fancied both the young ladies wished nothing had been said on 
the subject. Anneke even attempted, once or twice, to divert 
her father from certain comments that he made, in which he 
spoke rather lightly of such sort of amusements in general. 

" That Gucrt Ten Eyck is a character !" exclaimed Bulstrode, 
" and one I am sometimes at a loss to comprehend. A more 
manly-looking, fine, bold, young fellow, I do not know ; and 
he is often as manly and imposing in his opinions and judg- 
ments as he is to the eye ; while at times he is almost child- 
ish in his tastes and propensities. How do you account for 
this, Miss Anneke?" 

" Simply that nature intended Guert Ten Eyck for better 
things than accident and education, or the want of education, 
have enabled him to become. Had Guert Ten Eyck been edu- 
cated at Oxford, he would have been a very difierent man from 
what he is. If a man has only the instruction of a boy, he will 
long remain a boy." 

I was surprised at the boldness and decision of this opinion, 
for it was not Anneke's practice to be so open in delivering her 
sentiments of others ; but it was not long ere I discovered that 



SATAN STOE. 225 

she did not spare Guert, in the presence of her friend, from a 
deep conviction he was not worthy of the hold he was sensibly 
gaining on the feelings of Mary Wallace. Heraian Mordaunt, 
as I fancied, favored his daughter's views in this behalf; and 
there was soon occasion to observe that poor Guert had no 
other ally in that family, than the one his handsome, manly 
person, open disposition, and uncommon frankness had created 
in his mistress's own bosom. There was certainly a charm in 
Guert's habitual maimer of underrating himself, that inclined 
all who heard him to his side ; and, for myself, I will confess I 
early became his friend in all that matter, and so continued to 
the last. 

Bulstrode and I left the house together, walking arm and 
arm to his quarters, leaving Dirck with the ladies. 

"This is a charming family," said my companion, as we left 
the door ; " and I feel proud of being able to claim some affin- 
ity to it, though it is not so near as I trust it may one day 
become." 

I started, almost twitching my arm away from that of the 
major's, turning half round, at the same instant, to look him in 
the face. Bulstrode smiled, but preserved his own self-posses- 
sion in the stoical manner common to men of fashion and easy 
manners, pursuing the discourse. 

" I see that my frankness has occasioned you some little 
surprise,*^ he added; "but the truth is the truth; and I hold 
it to be unmanly for a gentleman, who has made up his mind 
to become the suitor of a lady, to make any secret of his in- 
tentions ; — is that not your own way of thinking, Mr. Little- 
page?" 

"Certainly, as respects the lady; and possibl}^, as respects 
her family; but not as respects all the world." 

"I take your distinction, Avhich may be a good one, in 
ordinary cases ; though, in the instance of Annekc Mordaunt, 
it may be merciful to let wandering yoimg men, like yourself. 
Corny, comprehend the real state of the case. I very well 
midcrstaud your own particular relation to the family of thu 



226 SATAN S TOE, 

Mordaunts ; but others may approacli it with different and 
more interested views." 

" Am I to understand, Mr, Bulstrode, tliat Miss Mordaunt ia 
your betrotlied?" 

" Oh ! by no means; for she has not yet made up her mind 
to accept me. You are to understand, however, that I have 
proposed to Herman Mordaunt, with my father's knowledge 
and approbation, and that the aftair is in 2)ctto. You can judge 
for yourself of the probable termination, being a better judge, 
as a looker-on, than I, as a party interested, of Anneke's man- 
ner of viewing my suit." 

" You will remember I have not seen you together these ten 
months, until this morning ; and I presume you do not wish 
me to suppose you have been waiting all that time for an an- 
swer." 

"As I consider you an ami de famille, Corny, there is no 
reason why there should not be a fair statement of things laid 
before you, for that affair of the lion will ever render you half 
a Mordaunt yourself. I had proposed to Anncke when you 
first saw me, and got the usual lady-like answer that the dear 
creature was too young to think of contracting herself, which 
Avas certainly truer then than now ; that I had friends at home 
who ought to be consulted, that time must be given, or the 
answer would necessarily be 'no,' and all the usual substance 
of such replies, in the preliminary state of a negotiation." 

"And there the matter has stood ever since?" 

" By no means, my dear fellow ; as far from that as possible. 
I heard Herman Mordaunt — for he did most of the talking on 
that side — with the patience of a saint, observed how proper it 
all was, and stated my intention to lay every thing before my 
father, and then advance to the assault anew, reinforced by his 
consent, and authority to offer settlements." 

" All of which you got, by return of vessel, on writing 
home?" I added, unable to imagine how any man could hesi- 
tate about receiving Anneke Mordaunt for a daughter-in-law. 

""Why, not exactly by return of vessel, though Sir Harry is 



SATANSTOE. 227 

niucli too well-bred to neglect answeriug a letter. I never 
knew liim to do sucli a tiling in Lis life ; uo, not Avlien I liavc 
puslied liim a little closely on the subject of my allowance 
having been out before the quarter was up, as will sometimes 
happen at college, you know, Corny, To tell you the truth, 
my dear boy, Sir Harry's consent did not come by return of 
vessel, though an answer did. It is a confounded distance 
across the Atlantic, and it takes time to argue a question when 
the parties are ' a thousand leagues asunder.' " 

" Argue ! — What argument could be required to convince 
Sir Harry Bulstrode of the propriety of your getting Anneke 
Mordaunt for a wife, if you could P'' 

. " Quite plain and sincere, upon my honor! But, I love you 
for the simplicity of your character. Corny, and so shall view 
ail favorably. If I could ! Well, Ave shall know at the end of 
the approaching campaign, when you and I come back from 
our trip to Quebec." 

" You have not answered my question, in the mean time, 
concerning Sir Harry Bulstrode." 

"I beg Sir Harry's and your pardon. What argument could 
be required to convince my father? Why, you have nevei 
been at home, Littlepage, and cannot easily understand, there- 
fore, what the feeling is precisely in relation to the colonies — 
much depends on that, you know." 

" I trust the mother loves her children, as I am certain the 
children love their mother." 

"Yes, you are all loyal; — I will say that for you, though 
Albany is not exactly Bath, or New York Westminster. I 
suppose you know, Littlepage, that the church upon the hill 
yonder, which is called St. Peter's, though a very good church, 
and a vciy respectable church, with a very reputable congrega- 
tion, is not exactly Westminster Abbey, or even St. James's f ' 

" I believe I understand you, sir ; and so Sir Harry 2:)roved 
obstinate ?" 

" As the devil ! — It took no less than three letters, the last 
oi which was pretty bold, to get him round, which I did at last. 



228 SATANSTOE. 

and his consent, in due form, has been handed in to llcrnian 
Mordaunt. I contended with some advantages in the aflair, 
or I never should have prevailed. But you will see how it was. 
Sir Harry is gouty and asthmatic both, and no great things of 
a life, at the best, and every acre he has on earth is entailed, 
just making the whole thing a question of time." 

"All of which you communicated, of course, to Anncke and 
Herman Mordaunt ?" 

" If I did I'll be hanged ! No, no ; Master Corny, I am not 
so gi-cen as that would imply. You provincials are as thin- 
skinned as raisons de Fontainhlcau^ and are not to be touched 
so rudely. I do not believe Anneke would marry the Duke of 
Norfolk himself, if the family raised the least scruple about 
receiving her." 

"And would not Anncke be right, in acting under so re- 
spectable a feeling?" 

" AVhy, you know she would only marry the duke, and not 
his mother, and aunts, and uncles. I cannot sec the necessity 
of a young woman's making herself uncomfortable on that 
account. But we have not come to that yet, for I would wish 
you to understand, Littlepage, that I am not accepted. No, 
no ! justice to Anneke demands that I should say this much. 
She knows of Sir Harry's consent, however, and that is a good 
deal in my favor, you must allow. I suppose her gi-eat objec- 
tion will be to quitting her father, who has no other child, and 
on him it will bear a little hard ; and then it is likely she 
will say something about a change of country, for you Ameri- 
cans are all great sticklers for living in your own region." 

" I do not see how you can justly accuse us of that, since it is 
universally admitted among us that every thing is better at home 
than it is in the colonies." 

"I really think, Corny," rejoined Bulstrode, smiling good- 
naturedly, " were you to pay the old island a visit, now, you 
yourself would confess that some things «?r," 

"I to visit! — I am at a loss to imagine why I am named as 
one disposed to deny it. Had it been Guert Ten Eyck, now, 



SATANSTOE. 229 

or even Dirck FoUoct, one miglit imagine such a tiling ; but I, 
who come from English blood, and who have an English-born 
grandfather, at this moment, alive and well at Satanstoe, am not 
to be included among the disaffected to England." 

Bulstrode pressed my arm, and his conversation took a more 
confidential air, as it proceeded. "I believe you are right. 
Corny," he said ; " the colony is loyal enough, heaven knows ; 
yet I find these Dutch look on us red-coats more coldly than 
the people of English blood below. Should it be ascribed to 
the phlegm of their manners, or to some ancient grudge con- 
nected with the conquest of their colony?" 

" Hardly the last, I should think, since the colony was traded 
away, under the final arrangement, in exchange for a possession 
the Dutch now hold in South America, There is nothing 
strange, however, in the descendants of the people of Holland 
prefening the Dutch to the English." 

"I assure you, Littlepage, the coldness with which we are 
regarded by the Albanians has been sjioken of among us ; 
though most of the leading families treat us well, and aid us 
all they can. They should remember that we are here to fight 
their battles, and to prevent the French from overrunning 
them." 

" To that they Avould probably answer that the French would 
not molest them, but for their quarrel with England. Here we 
must part, Mr. Bulstrode, as I have business to attend to. I 
will add one word, however, before we separate, and that is, 
that King George II. has not more loyal subjects in his domin- 
ions than those who dwell in his American provinces." 

Bulstrode smiled, nodded in assent, waved his hand, and we 
parted. 

I had plenty of occupation for the remainder of that da3^ 
Yaap arrived with his " brigade of sleighs" about noon, and I 
went in search of Guert, in whose company I repaired once 
more to the ofiice of the contractor. Horses, harness, sleighs, 
provisions and all were taken at high prices, and I was paid for 
the whole ill Spanish gold ; joes and liaU-joes being (piite as 



230 SATANSTOE. 

much in use among us in that day as the coin of the reahn 
Spanish silver has always formed our smaller currency, such a 
thing as an English shilling, or a sixpence, being quite a stranger 
among us. Pieces of eight, or dollars, are our commonest 
coin, it is true, but vre make good use of the half-joe iu all 
heavy transactions. I have seen two or three Bank of England 
notes in my day, but they are of rare occurrence in the colo- 
nies. There have been colony bills among us, but they are not 
favorites, most of our transactions being carried on by means 
of the Spanish gold and Spanish silver, that find their way up 
from the islands and the Spanish main. The war of which I am 
now writing, however, brought a great many guineas among 
us, most of the troops being paid in that species of coin ; but 
the contractors, in general, found it easier to command the 
half-joe than the guinea. Of the former, when all our sales 
were made, Dirck and myself had, betAvecn us, no less than one 
hundred and eleven, or eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars 
in value. 

I found Gucrt just as ready and just as friendly on this occa- 
sion, as he had been on the previous day. Not only were all 
our effects disposed of, but all our negroes were hired to the 
army for the campaign, Yaap excepted. The boys went off 
Avith their teams toward the north that same afternoon, in high 
spirits, as ready for a frolic as any white youths in the colony. 
I permitted Yaap to go on with his sleigh, to be absent for a 
few days, but he was to return and join us before we proceeded 
in quest of the " patent," after the breaking up of the winter. 

It was late in the afternoon before every thing was settled, 
when Guert invited nie to take a turn with him on the river in 
his own sleigh. By this time I had ascertained that my new 
friend was a young man of very handsome property, without 
father or mother, and that he lived in as good style as was 
common for the simple habits of those around him. Our prin- 
cipal families in New York Avere somewhat remarkable for the 
abundance of their plate, table-linen, and other household 
effects of the latter character, while here and there one was to 



SATANSTOE. 231 

be found tliat possessed some good pictures. The iitter, I have 
reason to think, however, were rare, though occasionally the 
work of a master did find its way to America, particularly from 
Holland and Flanders. Guert kept a bachelor's hall, in a re- 
spectable house, that had its gable to the street, as usual, and 
which was of no great size ; but every thing about it proved 
that his old black housekeeper had been trained under a regime 
of thorough neatness ; for that matter, every thing around Al- 
bany wore the appearance of being periodically scoured. The 
streets themselves could not undergo that process with snow 
on the ground ; but once beneath a roof, and every thing that 
had the character of dirt was banished. In this particular 
Guert' s bachelor residence was as faultless as if it had a mistress 
at its head, and that mistress were ]\Iary Wallace. 

" If she ever consent to have me," said Guert, actually sigh- 
ing as he spoke, and glancing his eyes round the very pretty 
little parlor I had just been praising, on the occasion of the 
visit I first made to his residence that afternoon ; "if she over 
consent to have me. Corny, I shall have to build a new house. 
This is now a hundred years old, and though it was thought a 
great aflair in its day, it is not half good enough for Mary 
Wallace. My dear fellow, how I envy you that invitation to 
breakfast this morning ! what a favorite }^ou must be with 
Herman Mordaunt !" 

"We are very good friends, Guert" — for, with the freedom 
of our colony manners, we had already dropped into the fa- 
miliarity of calling each other " Corny" and " Guert" — " we arc 
very good friends, Guert," I answered, "and I have some rea- 
son to think Ilemian Mordaunt does not dislike me. It was in 
my power to be of a trifling service to Miss Annekc last spring, 
and the whole family are disposed to remember it." 

" So I can see, at a glance ; even Annekc remembers it. I 
\vAXQ. heard the whole story fi-om Mary Wallace ; it was about a 
lion. I would give half of what I am worth, to see Mary Wal- 
lace in the paws of a lion, or any other wild beast ; just to let 
lier see that Guert Ten Eyck has a heart, as well as Corny Lit- 



232 SATANSTOE. 

tlcpage. But, Corny my boy, there is one thing you must do ; 
you are in such favor, that it Avill be easy for you to eflect it ; 
though I might try in vain, forever." 

" I will do any thing that is proper, to oblige you, Guert, for 
you have a claim on me for services rendered by yourself." 

"Pshaw! — Say nothing of such matters; I am never hap- 
pier than when buying or selling a horse ; and in helping you 
to get off your old cattle, why, I did the king no harm, and 
you some good. But it was about horses I was thinking. 
You must know, Littlepage, there is not a young man, or an 
old man, within twenty miles of Albanj^, that drives such a pair 
of beasts as myself." 

"You surely do not wish to sell these horses to Mary Wal- 
lace, Guert!" I rejoined, laughing. 

"Ay, my lad ; and this house, and the old farm, and two or 
three stores along the river ; and all I have, provided you can 
sell me with them. As the ladies have no present use for 
horses, however, Ilerman Mordaunt having brought up with 
him a very good pair, that came near running over you and me. 
Corny ; so there is no need of any sale ; but I should like to 
drive Mary and Anneke a turn of a few miles, with that team 
of mine, and in my own sleigh !" 

"That cannot prove such a difficult affair; young ladies, 
ordinaril}", consenting readily enough to be diverted with a 
sleigh-ride." 

" The oiF-one carries himself more like a colonel at the head 
of his regiment, than like an ignorant horse!" 

" I will propose the matter to Herman Mordaunt, or to An- 
neke, herself, if you desire it." 

" And the near-one has the movement of a lady in a minuet, 
when you rein him in a little. I drove those cattle. Corny, 
across the pine-plains, to Schenectady, in one hour and twenty- 
six minutes! — sixteen miles as the crow flies, and nearer sixty 
if you follow all the turnings of the fifty roads." 

" Well, what am I to do ; tell this to the ladies, or beg them 
to name a day ?" 



SATANSTOE. 233 

*' Name a day ! — I wish it had come to that, Corny, with 
my whole soul. They are two beauties !" 

" Yes, I think every body will admit that,'''' I answered inno- 
cently ; yet, very different in their charms." 

" Oh ! not a bit more alike than is just necessary for a good 
match. I call one Jack, and the other Moses. I never knew 
an animal that was named ' Jack,' who would not do his work. 
I would give a great deal, Corny, that Mary Wallace could see 
that horse move !" 

I promised Guert that I Avould use all my influence with the 
ladies, to induce them to trust themselves with his team ; and, 
in order that I might speak with authority, the sleigh was 
ordered round to the door forthwith, with a view first to take a 
turn with me. The winter equipage of Guert Ten Eyck was 
really a tasteful and knowing thing. I had often seen hand- 
somer sleighs, in the way of paint, varnish, tops and mouldings ; 
for to these he appeared to pay very little attention. The point 
on which the owner most valued his sleigh, was the admirable 
manner in which it rested on its runners — pressing lightly both 
behind and before. Then the traces were nearer on a level 
with the horses than Avas common, though not so high as to 
affect the draft. The color without was a sky blue, a favorite 
Dutch tint ; while within it was fiery red. The skins were very 
ample, all coming from the gray wolf. As these skins were 
lined with scarlet cloth, the effect of the Avhole Avas sufficiently 
cheering and warm. I ought not to forget the bells. In addi- 
tion to the four sets buckled to the harness, the usual accompa- 
niment of every sort of sleigh-harness, Guert had provided two 
enormous strings (always leathern straps), that passed from the 
saddles quite down under the bodies of Jack and Moses ; and 
another string around each horse's neck, thus increasing the 
jingling music of his march at least fourfold beyond the usual 
quantity.* 

* As it is possible this book may pass into the hands of others than Americans, it may 
be well to say that a sleigh-bcll is a small hollow ball, made of bell-metal, having a 
hole in it that passes round half of its circumference, and containing a small solid ball. 



234 SATANSTOE. 

In this style then, wc dashed from the door of the old Ten 
Eyck house ; all the blacks in the street gazing at us in delight, 
and shaking their sides with laughter — a negro always expresses 
his admiration of any thing, even to a sermon, in that mode. 
I remember to have heard a traveller who had been as far as 
Niagara, declare that his black did nothing but roar with laugh- 
ter, the first half-hour he stood confronted Avith that mighty 
cataract. 

Nor did the blacks alone stop to admire Guert Ten Eyck, his 
sleigh and his horses. All the young men in the place paid 
Guert this homage, for he was unanimously admitted to be the 
best whip, and the best judge of horse-flesh, in Albany; that is, 
the best judge for his years. Several young women who were 
out in sleighs, looked behind fhem, as we passed, proving that 
the admiration extended even to the other sex. All this Guert 
felt and saw, and its cff"ect was very visible in his manner as he 
stood guiding his spirited pair, amid the wood-sleds that crowded 
the main street. 

Our route lay toward the larger flats, that extend for miles 
along the west shore of the Hudson, to the north of Albany. 
This was the road usually taken by the young people of the 
place, in their evening sleigh-ride, not a few of the better class 
stopping to pay their respects to Madam Schuyler, a widow 

of a size not to escape. These bells aro fastened to leathern straps, which commonly 
pass round the necks of the horses. In ihe time of Guert Ten Eyck, most of the bells 
were attached to small plates, that were buckled to various parts of the harness; but 
as this caused a motion annoying to the animals, Mr. Littlepage evidently wishes his 
readers to understand that his friend Ten Eyck was too knowing to have recourse to 
tne practice. Even the straps are coming into disuse, the opinion beginning to obtain 
that sleigh-bells are a nuis.ince, Instead of an advantage. Twenty years since, the 
laws of most large towns rendered them necessary, under the pretence of preventing 
accidents by apprising the footman of the approach of a sleigh ; but more horses are 
20W driven in the state of New York, without than with bells, in winter. 

" Sleigh," as spelt, is purely an American word. It is derived from " slee," in 
Dutch, which is pronounced like "sleigh." Some persons contend that the Ameri- 
cans ought to use the old English words "sled," or "sledge." But these words do not 
precisely express the things we possess. There is as much reason for calling a pleas- 
ure conveyance by a name different from "sled," as there is for saying "coach" 
instead of " wagon." '• Sleigh will become English ere long, as it is now American. 
Twenty millions of people not only can make a word, but thoy can make a language 
If needed. — Editor. 



SATANSTOE. 235 

born of the same family as that into Avhich she had married, 
and who, from her cliaracter, connections and fortune, filled a 
high place in the social circle of the vicinity. Guert knew this 
lady, and proposed that I should call and pay my respects to 
her — a tribute she was accustomed to receive from most stran- 
gers of respectability. Thither, then, we drove as fast as my 
companion's blacks could cany us. The distance was only a 
few miles, and we were soon dasliing through the open gate, 
into what must have been a very pretty, though an inartificial, 
lawn in the summer. 

"By Jove, we are in luck!" cried Guert, the moment his 
eyes got a view of the stables : " Yonder is Herman Mor- 
daunt's sleigh, and we shall find the ladies here !" 

All this turned out as Guert had announced. Anneke and 
Mary Wallace had dined with Madam Schuyler, and their 
coats and shawls had just been brought to them, preparatory 
to returning home, as we entered. I had heard so much of 
Madam Schuyler as not to approach this respectable person 
without awe, and I had no eyes at first for her companions. I 
was well received by the mistress of the house, a woman of so 
large a size as to rise from her chair with great difficulty, but 
whose countenance expressed .equally intelligence, principles, 
refinement and benevolence. She no sooner heard the name of 
Littlepage, than she threw a meaning glance toward the young 
female friends, mine following and perceiving Anneke coloring 
highly, and looking a little distressed. As for Mary "Wallace 
she appeared to me then, as I fancied was usually the case 
whenever Guert Ten Eyck approached her, to be struggling 
with a species of melancholy pleasure. 

" It is unnecessary for me to hear your mother's name, Mr. 
Littlepage," said Madam Schuyler, extending a hand, " since 
I knew her as a young woman. In her name you are welcome ; 
as, indeed, you would be in your own, after the all-important 
service I hear you have rendered my sweet young friend, here." 

*' I could only bow, and express my -thanks; but it is un- 
necessary to say how grateful to me was praise of this sort, 



236 SATANSTOE. 

coming, as I kncv it must, from Anneke in tlie first instance. 
Still I could hardly refrain from laughing at Guert, wlio shrugged 
his shoulders, and turned toward me with a look that repeated 
his ludicrous regrets he could not see Mary "Wallace in a lion's 
paws ! The conversation then took the usual turn, and I got 
an opportunity of speaking tc5 the young ladies. 

After the character I had heard of Madam Schuyler, I was 
a good deal surprised to find that Gucrt was somewhat of a 
favorite. But even the most intellectual and refined women, 
I have since had occasion to learn, feel a disposition to judge 
handsome, manly, frank, flighty fcUoAvs like my new acquain- 
tance, somcAvhat leniently. With all his levity, and his dispo- 
sition to run into the excess of animal spirits, there was that 
about Guert which rendered it ditficult to despise him. The 
courage of a lion was in his eye, and his front and bearing were 
precisely those that arc particularly attractive to women. To 
these advantages were added a seeming unconsciousness of his 
superiority to most around him, in the way of looks, and a 
humility of spirit that caused him often to deplore his deficien- 
cies in those accomplishments which characterize the man of 
study and of intellectual activity. It was only among the 
hardy, active, and reckless, that Guert manifested the least 
ambition to be a leader. 

" Do you still drive those spirited blacks, Guert," demanded 
Madam Schuyler, in a gentle, affable way, that inclined her to 
adapt her discourse to the tastes of those she might happen 
to be with; "those, I mean, which you purchased in the au- 
tumn ?" 

"You may be certain of that, aunt" — every one who could 
claim the most distant relationship to this amiable woman, and 
whose years did not render the appellation disrespectful, called 
her " aunt" — "you may be certain of that, aunt, for their equals 
are not to be found in this colony. The gentlemen of the army 
pretend that no horse can be good that has not what they call 
blood ; but Jack and Moses are both of the Dutch breed, and 
the Schuylers and the Ten Eycks will never own there is no 



SATANSTOE. 237 

* blood' in sucli n, stock. I liave given cacli of these animals 
my own name, and call tliem Jack Ten Eyck and Moses Ten 
Eyck." 

"I hope you will not exclude the Littlepagcs and the Mor- 
daunts from your list of dissenters, Mr. Ten Eyck," observed 
Anneke, laughing, "since both have Dutch blood in their 
veins, too." 

"Very true. Miss Anneke; Miss Wallace being the only 
true, thorough Englishwoman here. But, as Aunt Schuyler 
has spoken of my team, I wish I could persuade you and Miss 
Mary to let me drive you back to Albany with it, this very 
evening. Your own sleigh can follow; and your father's 
horses being English, we shall have an opportunity of compar- 
ing the tv/o breeds. The Anglo-Saxons will have no load, 
while the Flemings will ; still, I will wager animal against ani- 
mal, that the last do the work the most nearly, and in the 
shortest time." 

"To this proposition, however, Anneke would not consent; 
her instinctive delicacy, I make no doubt, at once presenting 
to her mind the impropriety of quitting her own sleigh, to take 
an evening's drive in that of a young man of Guert's established 
reputation for recklessness and fun, and who was not always 
fortunate enough to persuade young women of the first class 
to be his companions. The turn the conversation had taken, 
nevertheless, had the efiect to produce so many urgent appeals, 
that were seconded by myself, to give the horses a trial, that 
Mary AVallace promised to submit the matter to Herman Mor- 
daunt, and, should he approve, to accompany Guert, Anneke 
and myself, in an excursion the succeeding week. 

This concession was received by poor Guert with profound 
gratitude ; and he assured me, as we drove back to town, that 
he had not felt so happy for the last two months. 

" It is in the power of such a young woman — young angel, 
I might better say," added Guert, "to make anything she 
may please of me ! I know I am an idler, and too fond of oui 
Dutch amusements, and that I have not paid the attention 1 



238 SATANSTOE. 

ought to have pcaiJ to books ; but let that precious creature 
only take me by the hand, and I should turn out an altered 
man in a month. Young women can do any thing they please 
with us, ]Mr. Littlepage, when they set their minds about it in 
earnest. I wish I was a horse, to have the pleasure of drag- 
ging Mary Wallace in this excursion 1" 



HATANSTOE. "•^•iO 



CHAPTER XV. 

*' 'When lol the voice of loud alarm 
His inmost soul appals: 
What ho 1 Lord William, rise in haste 1 
The water saps thy walls !" 

Lor.D William. 

The visit to Madam Scliuyler occuiTed of a Saturday even- 
ing ; and the matter of our adventure in company with Jact 
and Moses, was to be decided on the following Monday. 
When I rose and looked out of my window on the Sunday 
mornmg, hoAvcver, there appeared but very little prospect of 
its being effected that spring, inasmuch as it rained heavily, 
and there was a fresh south wind. We had reached the twenty- 
first of March, a period of the year when a decided thaw was 
not only ominous to the sleighing, but when it actually pre- 
dicted a permanent breaking up of the winter. The season 
had been late, and it was thought the change could not be 
distant. 

The rain and south wind continued all that day, and torrents 
of water came rushing down the short, steep streets, effectually 
washing away every thing like snow. Mi*. Worden preached, 
notwithstanding, and to a very respectable congregation. Dirck 
and myself attended ; but Jason preferred sitting out a double 
half-hour-glass sermon in the Dutch church, delivered in a 
language of Avhich he understood very little, to lending his 
countenance to the rites of the English service. Both Anneko 
and Mary Wallace found their way up the hill, going in a car- 
riage ; though I observed that Ilerman Mordaunt was absent. 
Guert was in the gallery, in which we also sat ; but I could not 
avoid remarking that neither of the young ladies raised her 



2iO SATANSTOK. 

eyes once, during tlie wliole service, as bigli as our pews. 
Gruert whispered something about this, as he hastened down 
stairs to hand them to their carriage, when the congregation 
was dismissed, begging me at the same time, to be punctual 
to the appointment for the next day. What he meant by this 
last remembrancer I did not understand ; for the hills were 
beginning to exhibit their bare breast, and it was somewhat 
surprising with what rapidity a rather unusual amount of snow 
had disappeared. I had no opportunity to ask an explanation, 
as Guert was too busy in placing the ladies in the carriage, 
and the weather was not such as to admit of my remaining a 
moment longer in the street than was indispensably necessary. 

A change occurred in the weather during the night, the rain 
having ceased, though the atmosphere continued mild, and the 
wind was still from the south. It was the commencement ot- 
the spring; and, as I walked round to Guert Ten Eyck's house, 
to meet him at breakfast, I observed that several vehicles with 
wheels were already in motion in the streets, and that divers 
persons appeared to be putting away their sleighs and sleds, as 
things of no further use, until the next winter. Our springs do 
not certainly come upon us as suddenly as some of which I have 
read, in the old world ; but when the snow and winter endure 
as far into March as had been the case with that of the year 
1758, the change is often nearly magical. 

"Ilere, then, is the spring opening," I said to Dirck, as we 
walked along the well-washed streets; "and, in a few weeks, 
we must be off to the bush. Our business on the patent must 
be got along with before the troops are put in motion, or we 
may lose the opportunity of seeing a campaign." 

With such expectations and feelings I entered Guert' s bache- 
lor abode ; and the first words I uttered, were to sympathize in 
his supposed disappointment. 

" It is a great pity you did not propose the drive to the ladies 
for Saturday," I begun; " for that was not only a mild day, but 
the sleighing was excellent. As it is, you will have to postpono 
ycmr triumph until next winter." 



SATANSTOE. 241 

"I do not understand you !" cried Guert; "Jack and Moses 
were never in better heart, or in better condition. I think they 
arc equal to going to Kinderhook in two hours !" 

" But who will furnish the roads with snow ? By looking out 
of the -window, you will see that the streets are nearly bare." 

" Streets and roads ! Who cares for either, while we have 
the river ? "We often use the river here, weeks at a time, Avhen 
the snow has left us. The ice has been remarkably even the 
whole of this winter, and, now the snow is off it, there will be 
no danger from the air-holes." 

I confess I did not much like the notion of travelling twenty 
miles on the ice, but was far too much of a man to offer any 
objections. 

We breakfasted, and proceeded in a body to the residence 
of Herman Mordaunt. When the ladies first heard that we 
had come to claim the redemption of the half-promise given 
at Madam Schuyler's their surprise was not less than mine had 
been, half an hour before, while their uneasiness was probably 
greater. 

"Surely, Jack and Moses cannot exhibit all their noble 
qualities without snow!" exclaimed Anueke, laughing, "Ten 
Eycks though they be ?" 

" We Albanians have the advantage of travelling on the ice, 
when the snow fails us," answered Guert. "Here is the river, 
near by, and never was the sleighing on it better than at this 
moment." 

" But it has been many times safer, I should think. This 
looks very much like the breaking up of winter !" 

"That is probable enough, and so much greater the reason 
why we should not delay, if you and Miss Mary ever intend to 
learn what the blacks can do. It is for the honor of Holland 
that I desire it, else Avould I not presume so far. I feel every 
condescension of this sort, that I receive from you two ladies, 
in a way I cannot express ; for no one knows, better than my- 
Bclf, how unworthy I am of your smallest notice." 

This brought the signs of yielding, at once, into tlie mild 
11 



242 SATANSTOE. 

countenance of Mary Wallace. Guert's self-humiliation never 
failed to do tliis. There was so mneh obvious truth in his ad- 
mission, so sincere a disposition to place himself, where nature 
and education, or a tvant of education had placed him, and 
most of all so profound a deference for the mental superiority 
of Mary herself, that the female heart found it impossible to 
resist. To my surprise, Guert's mistress, contrary to her habit 
in such things, was the first to join him, and to second his pro- 
posal. Herman Mordaunt entering the room at this instant, 
the Avhole thing was referred to him, as in reason it ought to 
have been. 

"I remember to have travelled on the Hudson, a few years 
since," returned lEerman Mordaunt, "the entire distance between 
Albany and Sing-Sing, and a very good time we had of it ; 
much better than had we gone by land, for there was little or 
no snow." 

" Just our case now. Miss Anneke !" cried Gucrt. " Good 
sleighing on the river, but none on the land," 

"Was that near the end of March, dear Papa?" asked An- 
neke, a little inquiringly. 

"No, certainly not, for it was early in February. But the 
ice, at this moment, must be near eighteen inches thick, and 
strong enough to bear a load of hay." 

" Yes, Masser Herman," obsen^ed Cato, a gray-headed black, 
who had never called his master by any other name, having 
known him from an infant ; " yes, Masser Herman, a load do 
come over dis minute." 

It appeared unreasonable to distrust the strength of the ice, 
after this proof to the contrary, and Anneke submitted. The 
party was arranged forthwith, and in the following manner : 
—the two ladies, Guert and myself, were to be drawn by the 
blacks, while Herman IMordaunt, Dirck, and any one else they 
could enlist, were to follow in the New York sleigh. It was 
hoped that an elderly female connection, Mrs. Bogart, who 
resided at Albany, would consent to be of the party, as the 
plan was to visit and dine with another, and a mutual connec- 



SATANSTOE. 243 

lion of the Monlaunts, at Kindcrlioolc, WLile the sleighs were' 
getting ready, Ilerman Mordaunt walked round to the house of 
Mrs. Bogart, made his request, and was successful. 

The clock in the tower of the English church struck ten, as 
both sleighs drove from Herman Mordaunt's door. There was 
literally no snow in the middle of the streets ; but enough of 
it, mingled with ice, was still to be found nearer the houses, to 
enable us to get down to the ferry, the point where sleighs 
usually went upon the river. Here Herman Mordaunt, who 
was in advance, checked his horses, and turned to speak to 
Guert on the propriety of proceeding. The ice near the shore 
had evidently been moved, the river having risen a foot or two, 
in consequence of the wind and thaw, and there was a sort of 
icy wave cast up near the land, over which it was indispensable 
to pass in order to get fairly on the river. As the top of this 
ridge or wave was broken, it exposed a fissure that enabled us 
to see the thickness of the ice, and this Guert pointed out in 
proof of its streng-th. There was nothing unusual in a small 
movement of the covering of the river, which the current often 
produces ; but unless the vast fields below got in movement, it 
was impossible for those above materially to change their posi- 
tions. Sleighs were passing too, still bringing to town hay 
from the flats on the eastern bank, and there was no longer any 
hesitation. Herman Mordauufs sleigh passed slowly over the 
ridge, having a care to the legs of the horses, and ours followed 
in the same cautious manner, though the blacks jumped across 
the fissure in spite of their master's exertions. 

Once on the river, however, Guert gave the blacks the whip 
and rein, and away we went like the wind. The smooth, icy 
surface of the Hudson was our road, the tliaw having left very 
few traces of any track. The water had all passed beneath the 
ice, through cracks and fissures of one sort and another, leaving 
us an even, dry surface to trot on. The wind was still south- 
erly, though scarcely warm, while a bright sun contributed to 
render our excursion as gay to the eye as it certainly was 
to our feelings. In a few minutes every trace of un('asine>;s 



244 SATANSTOE. 

had vanished. Away we went, the blacks doing full credit to 
their owner's boasts, seeming scarcely to touch the ice, from 
which their feet appeared to rebound with a sort of elastic 
force. Ilerraan Mordaunt's bays followed on our heels, and 
the sleighs had passed over the AvcU-known shoal of the Over- 
slaugh, within the first twenty minutes after they touched the 
river. 

Every northern American is familiar with the effect that the 
motion of a sleigh produces on the spirits, under favorable cir- 
cumstances. Ilad our party been altogether composed of Alba- 
nians, there would probably havo been no drawback on the 
enjoyment, for use would have prevented apprehension; but it 
required the few minutes I have mentioned to give Anneke and 
Marj Wallace full confidence in the ice. By the time we 
reached the Overslaugh, however, their feai's had vanished ; and 
Guert confirmed their sense of security, by tolling them to 
listen to the sounds produced by his horses' hoofs, which cer- 
tainly conveyed the impression of moving on a solid foundation. 

Mary Wallace had never before been so gay in my presence, 
as she appeared to be that morning. Once, or twice, I fancied 
her eyes almost as bright as those of Anneke' s, and certainly 
her laufjh was as sweet and musical. Both the girls were full 
of spirits, and some little things occurred that gave me hopes 
Bulstrode had no reason to fancy himself as secure as he some- 
times seemed to be. A casual remark of Guert's had the effect 
to bring out some of Anneke' s private sentiments on the sub- 
ject ; or, at least, so they appeared to be to me. 

"lam surprised that Mr. Mordaunt forgot to invite Mr. 
Bulstrode to be one of our party, to-day," cried Guert, when 
we were below the Overslaugh. "The major loves sleighing, 
and he would have filled the fourth seat in the other sleigh 
very agreeably. As for coming into this, that would be refused 
him, were he even a general !" 

"Mr. Bulstrode is English," ansv>"ered Anneke with spirit, 
"and fancies American amusements beneath the tastes of one 
who has been presented at the court of St. James." 



SATANSTOE. 245 

" Well, Miss Anncke, I cannot say that I agree with you 
at all, in this opinion of Mr. Bulstrode," Guert returned, in- 
nocently. "It is true, he is English ; that he fancies an ad- 
vantage, as does Corny Littlepage, here ; hut we must make 
proper allowances for home-love and foreign dislike." 

" ' Corny Littlepage, here,' is only half English, and that 
half is colony-born and colony-bred," answered the laughing 
girl, " and he has loved a sleigh from the time when he first 
slid down hill " 

" Ah 1 Miss Anneke — let me entreat " 



" Oh ! no allusion is entended to the Dutch church and its 
neighborhood ; — but the sports of childhood are always dear 
to us, as are sometimes the discomforts. Habit and prejudice 
are sister handmaidens ; and I never see one of these gentle- 
men from home taking extraordinary interest in any of our 
peculiarly colony usages, but I distrusted an extra amount of 
complaisance, or a sort of enjoyment in which we do not strictly 
share." 

"Is this altogether liberal to Bulstrode, Miss Anneke," I 
ventured to put in; "he seems to like us, and I am sure ho 
has good reason so to do. That he likes some of us, is too 
apparent to be concealed or denied." 

" Mr. Bulstrode is a skilful actor, as all who saw his Cato 
must be aware," retorted the charming girl, compressing her 
pouting lips in a way that seemed to me to be inexpressibly 
pleasing ; " and those who saw his Scrub must be equally con- 
vinced of the versatility of his talents. No, no ; Major Bul- 
strode is better where he is, or will be to-day, at four o'clock— 

at the head of the mess of the th, instead of dining in a 

snug Dutch parlor, with my cousin, worthy Mrs. Van der Hey- 
den, at a dhmer got up with colony hospitality, and colony 
good-will and colony plainness. The entertainment we shall 
receiva to-day, sweetened, as it will be, by the welcome which 
will c >mc from the heart, can have no competitor in countries 
where a messenger must be sent two days before the visit, to 
ask permission to coinc, in order to escape cold looks and 



246 SATANSTOE. 

artificial surprise. I would prefer surprising my friends from 
tlie laeart, instead of from the head." 

Guert expressed his astonishment that any one should not 
always be glad and willing to receive his friends ; and insisted 
on it, that no such inhospitable customs could exist. I knew, 
however, that society could not exist on the same terms in old 
and in new countries — among a people that Avas pressed upon 
by numbers, and a people that had not yet felt the evils of a 
superabundant population. Americans are like dwellers in the 
country, who are always glad to see their friends ; and I ven- 
tured to say something of the causes of these differences in 
habits. • 

Nothing occurred worthy of being dwelt on, in our ride to 
Kinderhook. Mrs. Van dcr Heyden resided at a short distance 
from the river, and the blacks and the bays had some little 
difficulty in dragging us through the mud to her door. Once 
there, however, our welcome fully verified the theory of the 
colony habits, which had been talked over in our drive down. 
Anneke's worthy connection was not only glad to see her, as 
any body might have been, but she would have been glad to 
receive as many as her house would hold. Few excuses were 
necessary, for we were all welcome. The visit would retard her 
dinner an hour, as was frankly admitted— but that was nothing ; 
and cakes and wine were set before us in the interval, did we 
feel hungry in consequence of a two hours' ride. Gucrt was 
desired to make free, and go to the stables to give his own 
orders. In a word, our reception was just that which every 
colonist has experienced, when he has gone unexpectedly to 
visit a friend, or a friend's friend. Our dinner was excellent, 
though not accompanied by much form. The wine was good ; 
Mrs. Van der Heyden' s deceased husband having been a judge 
of what was desirable in that respect. Every body Avas in 
good-humor ; and our hostess insisted on giving us coffee be- 
fore we took our departure. 

"There will be a moon, cousin Herman," she said, "and 
the night will be both light and pleasant. Gucrt knows the 



SATAXSTOE. 



247 



road, M'liicli cannot well be missed, as it is tlie river; and if 
j'ou quit mc at eiglit, you will reacli home in good season to 
go to rest. It is so seldom I see you, tliat I have a right to 
claim every minute you can ^pare. There remains much to be 
told concerning our old friends and mutual relatives." 

"When such words are accompanied by looks and acts that 
prove their sincerity, it is not easy to tear ourselves away from 
a pleasant house. We chatted on, laughed, listened to stories 
and colony anecdotes that carried us back to the last war, and 
heard a great many eulogiums on beaux and belles, that we 
j'oung people had, a'l our lives, considered as respectable, 
elderly, common-place sort of persons. 

At length the hour arrived when even 'M.vs. Bogart herself 
admitted we ought to part. Anneke and Mary were kissed, 
enveloped in their furs, and kissed again, and then we took 
our leave. As we left the house, I remarked that a clock in 
the passage struck eight. In a few minutes every one was 
placed, and the runners were striking fire from the flints of the 
bare ground. We had less difBculty in descending than in 
ascending the bank of the river, though there was no snow. It 
did not absolutely freeze, nor had it actually frozen since the 
commencement of the thaw, but the earth had stiffened since 
the disappearance of the sun. I was much rejoiced when the 
blacks sprang upon th6 ice, and whirled us away, on our return 
road at a rate even exceeding the speed with which they had 
come down it in the morning. I thought it high time we 
should be in motion on our return ; and in motion we were, if 
flying at the rate of eleven miles in the hour could thns be 
termed- 

The light of the moon w-as not clear and bright, for thcro 
was a haze in the atmosphere, as is apt to occur in the mild 
weather of March ; but there was enough to enable Guert to 
dash ahead with as great a velocity as was at all desirable. 
We were all in high spirits ; us two young men so much the 
more, because each of us fancied he had seen that day evidence 
of a tender interest existing; in the heart of his mistress toward 



248 SATANSTOE. 

himself. Mary Wallace liaJ mana-gcd, with a Avoman's tact, to 
make her suitor appear even respectable in female society, and 
had brought out in him many sentiments that denoted a gener- 
ous disposition and a manly heart, if not a cultivated intellect ; 
and Gucrt was getting confidence, and with it the means of 
giving his capacity fairer play. As for Anneke, she now knew 
my aim, and I had some right to construe several little symp 
toms of feeling, that escaped her in the course of the day, 
favorably. I fancied that, gentle as it always was, her voice 
grew softer, and her smile sweeter and more winning, as she 
addressed herself to, or smiled on me ; and she did just 
enough of both not to appear distant, and just little enough to 
appear conscious ; at least such were the conjectures of one 
who I do not think could be properly accused of too much con- 
fidence, and whose natural difiidence was much increased by 
the self-distrust of the purest love. 

Away we went, Guert's complicated chimes of bells jingling 
their merry notes in a manner to be heard half a mile, the 
horses bearing hard on the bits, for they knew that their own 
stables lay at the end of their jouniey, and Ilerman Mordaunt's 
bays keeping so near us that, notwithstanding the noise we 
made with our own bells, the sounds of his were constantly in 
our ears. An hour went swiftly by, and we had already passed 
Coejeman's, and had a hamlet that stretched along the strand, 
and which lay quite beneath the high bank of the river, in dim 
distant view. This place has since been known by the name 
of Monkey Town, and is a little remarkable as being the first 
cluster of houses on the shores of the Hudson after quitting 
Albany. I dare say it has another name in law. but Guert 
gave it the appellation I have mentioned. 

"I have said that the night had a sombre, misty light, the 
moon wading across the heavens through a deep but thin ocean 
of vapor. We saw the shores plainly enough, and we saw the 
houses and trees, but it was difficult to distinguish smaller ob- 
jects at any distance. In the course of the day twenty sleighs 
had been met or passed, but at that hour every body but our- 



SATANSTOE. 249 

eelvos appeared to have deserted the river. It was getting late 
for the simple habits of those who dwelt on its shores. When 
about half-way between the islands opposite Coejeman's and 
the hamlet just named, Guert, who stood erect to drive, told us 
that some one who was out late, like ourselves, was coming 
down. The horses of the strangers were in a very fast trot, and 
the sleigh was evidently inclining toward the west shore, as if 
those it held intended to land at no great distance. As it 
passed, quite swiftly, a man's voice called out something on a 
high key, but our bells made so much noise that it was not 
easy to understand him. He spoke in Dutch, too, and none of 
our ears, those of Guert excepted, were sufficiently expert in 
that language to be particularly quick in comprehending what 
he said. The call passed unheeded then, such things being 
quite frequent among the Dutch, who seldom passed each other 
on the highway without a greeting of some sort or other. I was 
thinking of this practice, and of the points that distinguished 
our own habits from those of the people of this part of the 
colony, when sleigh-bells sounded quite near me, and turning 
my head, I saw Herman Mordaunt's bays galloping close to us, 
as if wishing to get alongside. At the next moment the object 
Avas effected, and Guert pulled up. 

"Did you understand the man who passed down, Guert?" 
demanded Herman Mordaunt, as soon as all noises ceased. 
" He called out to us, at the top of his voice, and would hardly 
do that without an object." 

" These men seldom go home, after a visit to Albany, with- 
out filling their jugs," answered Guert, dryly ; " what could he 
have to say, more than to wish us good-night !" 

"I cannot tell, but Mrs. Bogart thought she understood 
something about 'Albany,' and Hhe river.' " 

"The ladies always fancy Albany is to sink into the river 
after a great thaw," answered Guert, good-humoredly ; but I 
can show either of them that the ice is sixteen inches thick, 
here where we stand." 

Guert then gave me the reins, stepped out of the sleigh, went 



250 SATANSTOE. 

a short distcancc to a largo crack that he had seen while speaking, 
and returned with a thumb placed on the handle of the whip, 
as a measure to show that his statement was true. The ice 
at that spot was certainly nearer eighteen than sixteen inches 
thick. Herman Mordaunt showed the measure to !Mrs. Bogart, 
whose alarm was pacified by this positive proof. Neither An- 
ncke nor Mary exhibited any fear ; but, on the contrary, as the 
sleighs separated again, each had something pleasant, but fem- 
inine, to say at the expense of poor Mrs. Bogart's imagination. 

I believe I was the only person in our own sleigh who felt 
any alarm after the occurrence of this little incident. Why 
uneasiness beset me, I cannot precisely say. It must have been 
altogether on Anneke's account, and not in the least on my 
own. Such accidents as sleighs breaking through, on our New 
York lakes and rivers, happened almost every winter, and horses 
were often dro^vned ; though it was seldom the consequences 
proved so serious to their owners. I recalled to mind the fra- 
gile nature of ice, the nccessaiy effects of the great thaw and 
the heavy rains, remembering that frozen water might still retain 
most of its apparent thickness, after its consistency was greatly 
impaired. But I could do nothing ! If we landed, the roads 
were unpassablc for runners, almost for wheels, and another 
hour might carry the ladies, by means of the river, to their com- 
fortable homes. That day, however, which, down to the mo- 
ment of meeting the unknown sleigh, had been the very hap- 
piest of my life, was entirely changed in its aspect, and I no 
longer regarded it with any satisfaction. Had Anneke been at 
home, I could gladly have entered into a contract to pass a week 
on the river myself, as the condition of her safety. I thought 
but little of the others, to my shame be it said, though I cannot 
do myself the injustice to imagine, had Anneke been away, 
that I would have deserted even a horse, while there was a hope 
of saving him. 

Away we went ! Guert drove rapidly, but he drove with 
judgment, and it seemed as if his blacks knew what was ex- 
pected of them. It was not long before v/e were trotting pa?t 



SATANSTOE. 251 

the hamlet I have mentioned. It would seem that the bells of 
the two sleighs attracted the attention of the people on the 
shore, all of whom had not yet gone to bed ; for the door of a 
house opened, and two men issued out of it, gazing at us as we 
trotted past at a pace that defied pursuit. These men also hal- 
looed to us, in Dutch, and again Hemian Mordpamt galloped up 
alongside, to speak to us. 

" Did you understand these men ?" he called out, for this time 
Guert did not see fit to stop the horses; "they, too, had some- 
thing to tell us." 

"These people always have something to tell an Albany 
sleigh, Mr. Mordaunt," answered Guert ; " though it is not often 
that which it would do any good to hear." 

"But Mrs. Bogart thinks they also had something to say 
about 'Albany,' and the 'river.' " 

" I undei-stand Dutch as well as excellent Mi-s. Bogart," said 
Guert, a little dryly; "and I heard nothing; while I fancy I 
understand the river better. This ice would bear a dozen loads 
of hay, in a close line." 

This again satisfied Herman Mordaunt and the ladies, but it 
did not satisfy mc. Our own bells made four times the noise 
of those of Hennan Mordaunt ; and it was very possible that 
one, who understood Dutch perfectly, might comprehend a call 
in that language, while seated in his own sleigh, when the same 
call could not be comprehended by the same person, while 
seated in Guert' s. There was no pause, however ; on we 
trotted ; and another mile was passed, before any new occur- 
rence attracted attention. 

The laugh was again heard among us, for Mary Wallace con- 
sented to sing an air, that was rendered somewhat ludicrous by 
the accompaniment of the bells. This song, or verse or two, 
for the singer got no further on account of the interruption, had 
drawn Guert's and my attention behind us, or away from the 
horses, when a whirling sound was heard, followed immediately 
by a loud shout. A sleigh passed within ten yards of us, going 
down, and the whirling sound was caused by its runners, Avhile 



252 SATANSTOE. 

tlie slioiit came from a solitary man, who stood erect, waving 
liis wliip and calling to ns in a loud voice, as long as Lc could 
be lieard. This was but for a moment, towever, as his horses 
were on the run; and the last we could see of the man, through 
tlie misty moonlight, he had turned his whip on his team, to 
urge it ahead still faster. In an instant, Herman Mordaunt 
was at our side, for the third time that night, and he called out 
to us somewhat authoritatively to stop. 

"What can all this mean, Gucrt?" he asked. " Threo 
times have we had warnings about 'Albany' and the * river.' I 
heard this man myself utter those two words, and cannot be 
mistalcen." 

" I dare say, sir, that you may have heard something of the 
sort," answered the still incredulous Gucrt; "for these chaps 
liave generally some impertinence to utter, when they pass a 
team that is better than their own. These blacks of mine, Her- 
man Mordaunt, awaken a good deal of envy, whenever I go 
out with them ; and a Dutchman will forgive you any other 
superiority, sooner than he will overlook your having the best 
team. That last man had a spur in his head, moreover, and is 
driving his cattle, at this moment, more like a spook than like 
a humane and rational being. I dare say he asked if we owned 
Albany and the river." 

Guert's allusion to his horses occasioned a general laugh ; 
and laughter is little favorable to cool reflection. We all looked 
out on the solemn and silent night, cast our eyes along the 
wide and long reach of the river, in which we happened to be, 
and saw nothing but the calm of nature, rendered imposing by 
solitude and the stillness of the hour. Guert smilingly renewed 
his assurances that all was right, and moved on. Away we 
went r Guert evidently pressed his horses, as if desirous of be- 
ing placed beyond this anxiety as soon as possible. The blacks 
flew, rather than trotted ; and we were all beginning to submit 
to the exhilaration of so rapid and easy a motion, when a sound 
which resembled that which one might suppose the simultane- 
ous explosion of a thousand rifles would produce, was heard, 



SATAN ST OE. 251'' 

and caused butli dii\ers to pull up ; the slciglis stopping quite 
near each other, and at the same instant ! A slight exclamation 
escaped old Mrs. Bogart; but Annekc and Mary remained still 
as death. 

"What means that sound, Guert ?" inquired Herman Mor- 
damit ; the concern he felt being betrayed by the very tone of 
]iis voice. " Somethmg seems wrong !" 

"Something is wrong," answered Guert, coolly, but ver}' 
decidedly ; " and it is something that must be seen to." 

As this was said, Guert stepped out on the ice, whicli he 
struck a hard blow with the heel of his boot, as if to make cer- 
tain of its solidity. A second report was heard, and it evidently 
came from behind us. Guert gazed intently down the river ; 
then he laid his head close to the surface of the ice, and looked 
again. At the same time, three or four more of these startling 
reports followed each other in quick succession. Guert instantly 
rose to his feet. 

"I understand it, now," he said, "and find 1 have been 
rather too confident. The ice, however, is safe and strong, 
and we have nothing to fear from its weakness. Perhaps 
it would be better to quit the river notvi'ithstanding, though 
I am far from certain the better course will not be to push 
on." 

"Let us know the danger at once, Mr. Ten Eyck," sa'd 
Herman Mordaunt, " that we may decide for the best." 

" AVhy, sir, I am afraid that the rains and the thaw together, 
have thrown so much water into the river, all at once, as il 
might be, as to have raised the ice and broken it loose, in spots, 
from the shores. "When this happens above, before the ice has 
disappeared below, it sometimes causes dams to form, which 
heap up such a weight as to break the whole plain of ice far 
below it, and tlms throw cakes over cakes until walls twenty or 
thirty feet high arc formed. This has not happened yet, there- 
fore there is no immediate danger ; but by bending your heads 
low, you can sec that such a break has just taken place about 
half a mile below us." 



254 SATANSTOE. 

We did as Gucrt directed, and saw that a mound had arisen 
across the river nearer than the distance named by our com- 
panion, completely cutting off retreat by the way we had come. 
The bank on the west side of the Hudson -was high at the 
point where we were, and looking intensely at it, I saw by the 
manner in which the trees disappeared, the more distant behind 
those that were nearer, that we were actually in motion ! An 
involuntary exclamation caused the whole party to comprehend 
this startling fact at the same instant. We were certainly in 
motion, though very slowly, on the ice of that swollen river, in 
the quiet and solitude of a night in Avhich the moon rather 
aided in making danger apparent than in assisting us to avoid 
it ! What was to be done ? It was necessary to decide, and 
that promptly and intelligently. 

We waited for Herman Mordaunt to advise us, but he referred 
the matter at once to Guert's greater experience. 

" We cannot land here," answered the young man, " so long 
as the ice is in motion, and I think it better to push on. Every 
foot will bring us so much nearer to Albany, and we shall get 
among the islands a mile or two higher, where the chances of 
hmding will be greatly increased. Besides, I have often crossed 
the river on a cake, for they frequently stop, and I have kno^ii 
even loaded sleighs profit by them to get over the river. As 
yet there is nothing very alarming ; — let us push on, and get 
nearer to the islands." 

This, then, was done, though there was no longer heard the 
laugh or the song among us. I could see that Herman Mor- 
daunt was uneasy about Anncke, though he could not bring 
her into his own sleigh, leaving Mary Wallace alone ; neither 
could he abandon his respectable connection, Mrs. Bogart. 
Before we re-entered the sleighs, I took an occasion to assure 
him that Anneke should be my especial care. 

"God bless you. Corny, my dear boy," Heiman Mordaunt 
answered, squeezing my hand with fervor. " God bless you 
and enable you to protect her. I was about to ask you to 
change seats with me ; but, on the whole, I think my child Avill 



bATANSTOE, 



be safer witli you than slic could be with lue. AVc -will await 
God's })lcasurc as accident Las placed us." 

"I will desert her only with life, Mr. Mordaiint. Ue at ease 
on that subject." 

"I know you Avill not — I am sure you will not, Littlepage ; 
that affair of the lion is a pledge that you will not. Had Bul- 

strode come, we should have been strong enough to but 

Guert is impatient to be off. God bless you, boy — God bless 
you. Do not neglect my child." 

Guert was impatient, and no sooner was I in the sleigh than 
we were once more in rapid motion. I said a few words to 
encourage the girls, and then no sound of a human voice min- 
gled with the gloomy scene. 




25G EATANSTOK. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

" lie started up, each limb convulsed 
"With agonizing fear, 
He only heard the storm of night — 
'TwaB music to his ear." 

LoKD William. 

Away wc went ! Gucrt's aim was the islands, wliicli carried 
him nearer home, while it oflered a place of retreat, in the 
event of the danfjer's becoming more serious. The fierce 
rapidity with which we now moved prevented all conversation, 
or even much reflection. The reports of the rending ice, how- 
ever, became more and more frequent, first coming from above, 
and then from below. More than once it seemed as if the im- 
mense mass of weight that had evidently collected somewhere 
near the town of Albany, was about to jiour down upon us in 
a flood — when the river would have been swept for miles, by a 
resistless toiTcnt. Nevertheless, Guert held on his way ; firstly, 
because he knew it would be impossible to get on either of the 
main shores, anywhere near the point where we happened to 
be ; and secondly, because having often seen similar dammings 
of the waters, he fancied we were still safe. That the distant 
reader may understand the precise character of the danger we 
ran, it may be well to give him some notion of the localities. 

The banks of the Hudson are generally high and precipitous, 
and in some places they are mountainous. No flats worthy of 
being mentioned, occur, until Albany is approached ; nor are 
those which lie south of that town, of any great extent, com- 
pared with the size of the stream. In this particular the Mo- 
hawk is a very different river, having extensive flats that, I have 
been told, resemble those of the Rhine, in miniature. As for 
the Hudson, it is generally esteemed in the colony as a very 



SATANSTOE. 257 

pleasing river ; and I remember to liave licard intelligent peo- 
ple from homo admit, tliat even tlie majestic Thames itself, is 
scarcely more worthy to be visited, or that it better rewards 
the trouble and cm-iosity of the enlightened traveller.* 

While there are flats on the shores of the Hudson, and of 
some extent, in the vicinity of Albany, the general formation 
of the adjacent countiy is preserved — being high, bold, and in 
some quarters, more particularly to the northward and cast- 
ward, mountainous. Among these hills the stream meanders 
for sixty or eighty miles north of the town, receiving tributaries 
as it comes rushing down toward the sea. The character of 
the river changes entirely, a short distance above Albanj?^ ; the 
tides flowing to that point, rendering it navigable, and easy of 
ascent in summer, all the way from the sea. Of the tributaries, 
the principal is the Mohawk, which runs a long distance tovrard 
the west — they tell me, for I have never visited those remote 
parts of the colony — among fertile plains, that are bounded 
north and south by precipitous highlands. Now, in the spring, 
v.'hcn the vast quantities of snow, that frequently lie four feet 
deej) in the forests, and among the mountains and valleys of 
the interior, are suddenly melted by the south winds and rains, 
freshets necessarily succeed, which have been known to do great 
injury. The flats of the Mohawk, they tell me, are annually 
overflowed, and a moderate freshet is deemed a blessing ; but 
occasionally a union of the causes I have mentioned, produces 
a species of deluge that has a very opposite character. Thus it 
is, that houses are swept away ; and bridges from the smaller 

* This remark of Mr. Cornelius Littlepage's may indncc a smile in the rcatlor. But 
few persons of fifty can he found, who cannot recall the lime, when it was a rare thiu^ 
to imf^ino any thing American as good as its English counterpart. The American wiio 
could writo a book — a real, live book — forty years since, was a sort of prodigy. It 
was the eamo with hirn who could paint any picture beyond a common portrait. 
The very fruits and natural productions of the country were esteemed doubtingly ; 
and he was a bold man who dared to extol even canvas-back ducks, in the year 
ISOO 1 At the present day, the feeling is fast undergoing an organic change. It is 
now the fashion to extol every thing American, and from submitting to a degree that 
was almost abject, to the feeling of colonial dependency, the country is filled, to-day 
with the most i>rofound provinci.M sclf-adrairatiou. It is to bo hoped that the next 
change will bring us to something like the truth.— Euitok. 



258 SATANSTOE. 

monntaln streams, have been known to come floating past the 
wharves of Albany, holding their way toward the ocean. At 
such times the tides produce no counter-current; for it is a 
usual thing, in the early months of the spring, to have the 
stream pour downward for weeks, the whole length of the river, 
and to find the water fresh even as low as New York. 

Such "was the general nature of the calamity we had been so 
unexpectedly made to encounter. The winter had been severe, 
and the snows unusually deep ; and, as we drove furiously on- 
ward, I remembered to have heard my grandfather predict 
extraordinary freshets in the spring, from the character of the 
winter, as avc had found it, even previously to my quitting 
home. The great thaAv, and the heavy rains of the late storms, 
had produced the usual effect; and the waters thus let loose 
among the distant as well as the nearer hills, were now pour- 
ing down upon us in their collected might. In such cases, the 
first effect is, to loosen the ice from the shores; and local 
causes forcing it to give way at particular points, a breaking up 
of its surface occurs and dams are formed, that set the stream 
back in floods upon all the adjacent low land, such as the flats 
in the vicinity of Albany. 

We did not then know it, but, at the very moment Guert 
was thus urging his blacks to supernatural eftbrts — actually run- 
ninix them as if on a race-course — there was a long reach of the 
Hudson, opposite to, for a short distance beloAv, and for a con- 
siderable distance above the town, which was quite clear of 
stationaiy ice. Vast cakes continued to come down, it is true, 
passing on to increase the dam that had formed below, near 
and on the Overslaugh, where it w^as buttressed by the islands, 
and rested on the bottom ; but the whole of that firm field, on 
Avhich we had first driven forth that morning, had disappeared ! 
This we did not know at the time, or it might have changed 
the direction of Guert's movements ; but I learned it afterward, 
when placed in a situation to inquire into the causes of what 
had occurred. 

I] crman Mordaunt's bells, and the rumbling sound of his run- 



SATANSTOE. 259 

iicrs, vcrc heard close beliind us, as our own sleigh flew along 
the river at a rate that I firmly believe could not have been 
much less than that of twenty miles in the hour. As we were 
whirled northward, the reports made by the rending of the ice 
increased in frequency and force. They really became appal- 
ling ! Still the girls continued silent, maintaining their self- 
command in a most admirable manner ; though I doubt not 
that they felt, in the fullest extent, the true character of the 
aAvful circumstances in wdiich we were placed. Such was the 
state of things, as Guert's blacks began sensibly to relax in their 
speed, for want of wind. They still galloped on, but it was no 
longer with the swiftness of the wind ; and their master became 
sensible of the folly of hoping to reach the town ere the catas- 
trophe should arrive. He reined in his panting horses, there- 
fore, and was just falling into a trot, as a violent report was 
heard directly in our front. At the next instant the ice rose, 
positively beneath our horses' hoofs, to the height of several 
feet, taking the form of the roof of a house. It was too late 
to retreat, and Guert shouting out "Jack" — "Moses," applied 
the whip, and the sjjirited animals actually went over the mound, 
leaping a crack three feet in width, and reaching the level ice 
beyond. All this was done, as it might be, in the twinkling of 
an eye. While the sleigh flew over this ridge, it was with diffi- 
culty I held the girls in their seats ; though Guert stood nobly 
erect, like the pine that is too firmly rooted to yield to tho 
tempest. No sooner was the danger passed, however, than he 
pulled up, and came to a dead halt. 

We heard the bells of Ilcrman Mordaunt's sleigh on tho 
other side of the barrier, but could sec nothing. The broken 
cakes, pressed upon by millions of tons' weight above, had risen 
fully ten feet, into an inclination that Avas nearly perpendicular ; 
rendering crossing it next to impossible, even to one afoot. 
Then came Ilerman Mordaunt's voice, filled with paternal agony 
and human grief, to increase the awe of that dreadful moment ! 

" Shore ! — shore ! — " he shouted, or rather yelled — " In the 
name of a righteous Providence, to the shore, Guert !" 



2G0 SATANSTOE. 

Tlie bells passed off toward the western bank, and tlie rum- 
bling of tbe runners accompanied their sound. That Avas a 
breathless moment to ns four. AVc heard the rending and 
grinding of the ice, on all sitlcs of us ; saw the broken baniers 
behind and in front ; heard the jingling of Herman Mordaunt's 
bells, as it became more and more distant, and finally ceased ; 
and felt as if wo were cut off from the rest of our species. I do 
not think either of us felt any apprehension of breaking through ; 
for use had so accustomed us to the field of the river, while the 
more appalling grounds of alarm were so evident, that no one 
thought of such a source of danger. Nor was there much, in 
truth, to apprehend from that cause. The thaw had not lasted 
long enough materially to diminish either the thickness or tbe 
tenacity of the common river ice ; though it was found unequal 
to resisting the enormous pressure that bore upon it from above. 
It is probable that a cake of an acre's size would have upheld, 
not only ourselves, but our sleigh and horses, and carried us, 
like a raft, down the stream ; had there been such a cake free 
from stationary impediments. Even the girls now comprehend- 
ed the danger, which was in a manner suspended over us — as 
the impending wreath of snow menaces the fall of the ava- 
lanche. But it was no moment for indecision or inaction. 

Cut off, as we were, by an impassable barrier of ice, from 
the route taken by Herman Mordaunt, it was necessary to come 
to some resolution on our own course. We had the choice of 
endeavoring to pass to the western shore, on the upper side of 
the barrier, or of proceeding toward the nearest of several low 
islands which lay in the opposite direction. Guert deter- 
mined on the last, walking his horses to the point of land, there 
being no apparent necessity for haste, while the animals greatly 
needed breath. As we went along, he explained to us that the 
fissure beloAV cut us off from the only point where landing on 
the western shore could be practicable. At the same time, he 
put in practice a pious fraud, which had an excellent effect on 
the feelings and conduct of both tlie girls, throughout the re- 
mainder of the trjing scenes of that fearful night ; more cspe- 



SATANSTOE. 261 

ciiilly on tliosc of Anneke. lie dwelt on tlic good fortune of 
Herman Mordaunt, in being on the riglit side of the barrier 
that separated the sleighs, in a \yay to induce those who did 
not penetrate his motive, to fancy the rest of the party were in 
a place of security, as the consequence of this accident. Thus 
did Anneke believe her father safe, and thus was she relieved 
from much agonizing doubt. 

As soon as the sleigh came near the point of the island, 
Guert gave me the reins, and went ahead to examine whether 
it wex'e possible to land. He was absent fifteen minutes ; re- 
turning to us only after he had made a thorough search into 
the condition of the island, as well as of that of the ice in its 
eastern channel. These were fifteen fearful minutes ; the rend- 
ing of the masses above, and the grinding of cake on cake, 
sounding like the roar of the ocean in a tempest. Notwith- 
standing all the awful accessories of this dreadful night, I could 
not but admire Guert's coolness of manner, and his admirable 
conduct. He was more than resolute ; for he was cool, col- 
lected, and retained the use of all his faculties in perfection. 
As plausible as it might seem, to one less obseivant and clear- 
headed, to attempt escaping to the western shore, Guert had 
decided right in moving toward the island. The grinding of 
the ice, in another quarter, had apprised him that the water 
was forcing its way through, near the mainland ; and that 
escape would be nearly hopeless on that side of the river. 
When he rejoined us, he called me to the heads of the horses, 
for a conference ; first solemnly assuring our precious com- 
panions that there Avere no grounds for immediate apprehen- 
sion. Mary "Wallace anxiously asked him to repeat this to her, 
on the fiiith due from man to woman ; and he did it ; when I 
was permitted to join him without further opposition. 

" Corny," said Guert, in a low tone, '"' Providence has pun- 
ished me for my wicked wish of seeing Mary Wallace in the 
claws of lions ; for all the savage beasts of the old world, could 
hardly make our case more desperate than it now is. Wo 
must be cool, however, and preserve the girls, or die like men." 



262 SATANSTOE. 

"Our fates are, and mnst be the same. Do you devote 
yourself to Alary, and leave Anneke to me. But -wliy tliis 
language ; surely our case is by no means so desperate?" 

" It miglit not be so difficult for two active, vigorous young 
men to get ashore ; but it would be different with females. 
The ice is in motion all around us ; and the cakes are piling 
and grinding on each other in a most fearful manner. Were 
it light enough to see, we should do much better ; but, as it is, 
I dare not trust Mary Wallace any distance from this island, at 
present. We may be compelled to pass the night here, and 
must make provision accordingly. You hear the ice grinding 
on the shore ; a sign that every thing is going down stream. 
God send that the waters break through ere long ; though they 
may sweep all before them, when they do come. I fear me, 
Corny, that Herman Mordaunt and his party are lost !" 

" Merciful Providence ! — can it be as bad as that ! — I rather 
hope they have reached the land." 

" That is impossible, on the course they took. Even a man 
would be bewildered and swept away, in the torrent that is 
driving down under the west shore. It is that vent to the 
water which saves us. But, no more words. You now under- 
derstand the extent of the danger, and will know what you are 
about. We must get our precious charge on the island, if pos- 
sible, without further dela3^ Ilalf an hour — nay, half a minute 
may bring down the ton'ent." 

Guert took the direction of every thing. Even while we had 
been talking, the ice had moved materially ; and Ave found our- 
selves fifty feet further from the island than we had been. By 
causing the horses to advance, this distance was soon recovered ; 
but it was found impossible to lead or drive them over the 
broken cakes with which the shore of the island now began to 
be lined. After one or two spirited and determined efforts, 
Guert gave the matter up, and aSked me to help the ladies from 
the sleigh. Never did women behave better than did these 
delicate and lovely girls, on an occasion so awfully trying. 
Without remonstrances, tears, exclamations, or questions, both 



SATANSTOE, 203 

did as dosh-ed ; and I cannot express tlie feeling of security I 
felt, when I had helped each over the broken and grinding 
border of white ice that separated us from the shore. The 
night was far from cold ; hut the ground was now frozen suffi- 
ciently to prevent any unpleasant consequences from walking 
on what would otherwise have heea a slimy, muddy alluvion ; 
for the island was so very low as often to be under water, when 
the river was particularly high. This, indeed, formed our 
danger, after we had reached it. 

When I returned to Guert, I found him already drifted down 
some little distance ; and this time we moved the sleigh so 
much above the point, as to be in less danger of getting out of 
sight of our precious wards. To my surprise, Guert was busy 
in stripping the harness from the horses, and Jack already 
stood only in his blinkers. Moses was soon reduced to the 
same state. I was wondering what v/as to be done next, when 
Guert drew each bridle from its animal, and gave a smart crack 
of his whip. The liberated horses started back with affright — 
snorted, reared, and, turning away, they went down the river, 
free as air, and ahuost as swift ; the incessant and loud snap- 
ping of their master's whip, in no degree tending to diminish 
their speed. I asked the meaning of this. 

*'It would be cruel not to let the poor beasts make use of 
the strength and sagacity nature has given them to save their 
lives," answered Guert, straining his eyes after Moses, the horse 
that was behind, so long as his dark form could be distin- 
guished, and leaning forward to listen to the blows of their hoofs, 
while the noises around us permitted them to be heard. " To 
us they would only be an encumbrance, since they could never 
be forced over the cracks and caked ice in harness ; nor would it 
be at all safe to follow them, if they could. The sleigh is light, 
and we are strong enough to shove it to land, when there is 
an opportunity; or, it may be left on the island." 

Nothing could have served more cfTectually to convince me 
of the manner in which Guert regarded our situation, than to 
see him turn loose beasts which I knew he so highly prized. I 



2G4 SATANSTOE. 

inentioncd tliis ; and lie answered me witli a inelanclioly seri- 
ousness, that made the impression so much the stronger — 

" It is possible they may get ashore, for nature has given a 
liorse a keen instinct. They can swim, too, where you and I 
would drown. At all events, they are not fettered with har- 
ness, hut have every chance it is in my power to give them. 
Should they land, any farmer would put them in his stable, and 
I should soon hear where they were to be found ; if, indeed, I 
am living in the morning to mahe the inquiry." 

" What is next to be done, Guert?" I asked, understanding 
at once both his feelings and his manner of reasoning. 

*' We must now run the sleigh on the island ; after which it 
will be time to look about us, and to examine if it be possible 
to get the ladies on the mainland." 

Accordingly, Guert and I applied ourselves to the task, and 
had no great diflSculty in dragging the sleigh over the cakes, 
grinding and in motion as they were. We pulled it as far the 
tree beneath which Anncke and Mary stood ; when the ladies 
got into it and took their scats, enveloped in the skins. The 
night was not cold for the season, and our companions were 
thickly clad, having tippets and mufi's ; still, the wolves' skins 
of Guert contributed to render them more comfortable. All 
apprehension of immediate danger now ceased for a short time ; 
nor do I think either of the females fancied they could run any 
more risk, beyond that of exposure to the night air, so long as 
they remained on terra firma. Such was not the case, how- 
ever, as a very simple explanation will render apparent to the 
reader. 

All the islands in this part of the Hudson are low, being rich 
alluvial meadows, bordered by trees and bushes ; most of the 
first being willows, sycamores, or nuts. The fertility of the 
soil had given to these trees rapid growths, and they were gen- 
erally of some stature ; though not one among them had that 
great size which ought to mark the body and branches of a 
venerable tenant of the forest. This fact, of itself, proved that 
no one tree of them all was very old ; a circumstance that was 



HATANSTOE. 265 

certainly owing to the ravages of tlie annual freshets, I say 
annual ; for though the freshet which now encompassed us was 
far more serious than usual, each year brought something of the 
&ort ; and the islands were constantly increasing or diminishing 
under their action. To prevent the last, a thicket of trees was 
left at the head of each island, to form a sort of barricade against 
the inroads of the ice in the spring. So low was the face of the 
land, or meadow, however, that a rise of a very few feet in the 
river would be certain to bring it entirely under water. All 
this will be made more apparent by our own proceedings, after 
we had placed the ladies in the sleigh ; and more especially by 
the passing remarks of Guert while employed in his subsequent 
cftbrts. 

No sooner did Guert Ten Eyck believe the ladies to be tem- 
porarily safe, than he proposed to me that we should take a 
closer look at the state of the river, in order to ascertain the 
most feasible means of getting on. the mainland. This was 
said aloud, and in a cheerful w^ay, as if he no longer felt any 
apprehension, and evidently to me, to encourage our compan- 
ions. Anneke desired us to go, declaring that now she knew 
herself to be on dry land all her own fears had vanished. We 
went accordingly, taking our first direction tow'ard the head of 
the island. 

A very few minutes sufficed to reach the limits of our nan'ow 
domain ; and as we approached them Guert pointed out to 
me the mound of ice that was piling up behind it, as a most 
fearful symptom. 

" There is our danger," he said, with emphasis, " and we 
must not trust to these trees. This freshet goes beyond any I 
ever saw on the river ; and not a spring passes that we have 
not more or less of them. Do you not see. Corny, what saves 
us now?" 

" "We are on an island, and cannot be in much danger from 
the river while we stay here." 

"Not "So, my dear friend, not at all so. But come with me, 
and look for yourself," 
12 



2G6 SATANSTOE. 

I followed Guert, and did loot /or myself. We sprang upon 
the cakes of ice, -whicli were piled quite thirty feet in height, 
on the head of the island, extending riglit and left, as far as 
our eyes could see, by that misty light. It was by no means 
difficult moving about on this massive pile, the movement in 
the cakes being slow, and frequently inteiTupted ; but there 
was no concealing the true character of the danger. Ilad not 
the island, and the adjacent main interposed their obstacles, the 
ice would have continued to move bodily down the stream, 
cake shoving over cake, until the whole found vent in the wider 
space below, and floated off toward the ocean. Not only was 
our island there, however, but other islands lay near us, strait- 
ening the different channels or passages in such a way as to 
compel the formation of an icy dam ; and, on the strength of 
this dam rested all our security. Were it to be ruptured any- 
where near us, we should inevitably be swept off in a body. 
Guert thought, however, as has been said already, that the 
waters had found naiTow issues under the mainland, both east 
and west of us ; and should this prove to be true, there was a 
hope that the great calamity might be averted. In other 
words, if these floodgates sufficed, we m'ujUt escape ; otherwise 
the catastrophe was certain. 

" I cannot excuse it to myself to remain here, without endea- 
voring to see what is the state of things nearer to the shore," 
said Guert, after we had viewed the fast accumulating mass of 
broken ice above us, as well as the light permitted, and we had 
talked over together the chances of safety, and the character of 
the danger. " Do you return to the ladies. Corny, and endea- 
vor to keep up their spirits, while I cross this channel on our 
right, to the next island, and see what offers in that direction." 

"I do not like the idea of your running all the risk alone ; 
besides, something may occur to require the strength of two, 
instead of that of one, to overcome it." 

" You can go with me as far as the next island, if you will, 
where we shall be able to ascertain at once whether it be ice or 
water that separates us from the eastern shore. If the first, you 



SATANSTOE. 267 

can return as fost as possible for tlio ladies, while I look for a 
place to cross. I do not like the appearance of this dam, to 
bo honest with you ; and have great feai-s for those who ai-e 
DOW in the sleigh." 

AVe were in the very act of moving away, when a loud 
cracking noise, that arose within a few yards, alarmed us both ; 
and running to the spot whence it proceeded, we saw that a 
large willow had snapped in two, like a pipe-stem, and that the 
whole barrier of ice was marching, slowly, but grandly, over the 
stump, crushing the fallen trunk and branches beneath its weight, 
as the slow-moving wheel of the loaded cart crushes the twig. 
Guert grasped my arm, and his fingers nearly entered the flesh, 
under his iron pressure. 

" We must quit this spot — " he said firmly, "and at once. 
Lot us go back to the sleigh." 

I did not know Guert' s intentions, but I saw it Avas time to 
act with decision. We moved swiftly down to the spot where 
Ave had left the sleigh ; and the reader will judge of our horror, 
when we found it gone ! The whole of the low point of the 
island where we had left it, was already covered with cakes of 
ice that were in motion, and which had doubtless swept off the 
sleigh during the few minutes that we had been absent ! Look- 
ing around us, however, we saw an object on the river, a little 
distance below, that I fancied was the sleigh, and was about to 
rush after it, when a voice, filled with alarm, took us in another 
direction. Mary Wallace came out from behind a tree, to 
which she had fled for safety, and seizing Guert' s arm, implored 
him not to quit her again. 

*' Whither has Anneke gone ?" I demanded, in an agony I 
cannot describe — " I see nothing of Anneke !" 

"She would not quit the sleigh," answered Mary Wallace, 
almost panting for breath — "I implored — entreated her to 
follow me — said you must soon return ; but she refused to 
quit the sleigh. Anneke is in the sleigh, if that can now be 
found." 

I heard no more ; but springing on the still moving cakes of 



268 SATANSTOE. 

ice, went leaping from cake to cate, until my sight showed me 
that, sure enough, the sleigh was on the bed of the river, over 
which it was in slow motion ; forced downward before the- jiew 
coating of ice that was fast covering the original surface. At 
first I could see no one in the sleigh ; but, on reaching it, I 
found Anneke buried in the skins. She was on her knees ; the 
precious creature was asking succor from God ! 

I had a wild but sweet consolation in thus finding myself, as 
it might be, cut ofi" from all the rest of my kind, in the midst 
of that scene of gloom and desolation, alone with Anneke Mor- 
daunt. The moment I could make her conscious of my pres- 
ence, she inquired after Mary Wallace, and was much relieved 
on learning that she was with Guert, and would not be left by 
him, for a single instant^ again that night. Indeed, I saw their 
figures dimly, as they moved swiftly across the channel that 
divided the two islands, and disappear in that direction, among 
the bushes that lined the place to which they had gone. 

" Let us follow," I said, eagerly. "The crossing is yet easy, 
and we, too, may escape to the shore." 

"Go you !" said Anneke, over whom a momentary physical 
torpor appeared to have passed. " Go you. Corny," she said ; 
"a man may easily save himself; and you are an only child — 
the sole hope of your parents." 

" Dearest, beloved Anneke ! — why this indifference — this 
apathy on your own behalf? Ai'e you not an only child, the 
sole hope of a widowed father? — do you forget Mm .?" 

"No, no, no!" exclaimed the dear girl, hurriedly. "Help 
me out of the sleigh. Corny ; there, I will go with you any- 
where — anyhow — to the end of the world, to save my father 
from such anguish?" 

From that moment the temporary imbecility of Anneke 
vanished, and I found her, for the remainder of the time we 
remained in jeopardy, quick to apprehend, and ready to second 
all my efforts. It was this passing submission to an imaginary 
doom, on the one hand, and the headlong effect of sudden 
fright on the other, which had separated the two girls, and 



SATANSTOE. 260 

vvliicli had been the means of dividing the whole party as de- 
scribed. 

I scarcely know how to describe what followed. So intense 
was my apprehension on behalf of Anneke, that I can safely 
say, I did not think of my own fote in the slightest degree as 
disconnected from hers. The self-devoted reliance with which 
the dear girl seemed to place all her dependence on me, would 
of itself have produced this effect, had she not possessed my 
whole heart, as I was now so fully aware. Moments like those 
make one alive to all the affections, and strip off every covering 
that habit, or the dissembling of our manners is so apt to throw 
over the feelings. I believe I both spoke and acted toward 
Anneke, as one would cling to, or address the being dearest to 
him in the world, for the next few minutes ; but I can suppose 
the reader will naturally prefer learning what we did, under 
such circumstances, rather than what we said, or how we felt. 

I repeat, it is not easy for me to describe what followed. I 
know Ave first rather ran than walked, across the channel on 
which I had last seen the dim forms of Guert and Mary, and 
even crossed the island to its eastern side, in the hope of being 
able to reach the shore in that quarter. The attempt was use- 
less, for we found the water running down over the ice like a 
race-way. Nothing could be seen of our late companions ; and 
my loud and repeated calls to them were unanswered. 

"Our case is hopeless, Cornelius," said Anneke; speaking 
with a forced calmness, when she found retreat impossible in 
that direction. "Let us return to the sleigh, and submit to 
the will of God!" 

" Beloved Anneke ! — Think of your father, and summon your 
whole strength. The bed of the river is yet firm ; we will cross 
it, and try the opposite shore." 

Cross it we did, my delicate companion being as much sus- 
tained by my supporting arm as by her own resolution ; but 
we found the same obstacle to retreat interposing there also. 
The island above had turned the waters aside, until they found 
an outlet under each bank — shooting along their willowy shores. 



270 SATANSTOE. 

with the velocity of arrows. By tliis time, owing to our liurried 
movement, I found Annekc so far exhausted, that it was abso- 
lutely necessary to pause a minute to take breath. This pause 
was also necessary, in order to look about us, and to decide un- 
derstandingly as to the course it was necessary now to pursue. 
This pause, brief as it was, moreover contributed largely to the 
apparent liorrors of our situation. 

The grating or grinding of the ice above us, cake upon cake, 
now sounded like the rushing of heavy winds, or the incessant 
roaring of a surf upon the sea-shore. The piles were becoming 
visible, by their height and their proximity, as the ragged bar- 
riers set slowly but steadily down upon us ; and the whole river 
seemed to me to be in motion dowuAvard. At this awful in- 
stant, when I began to think it was the will of Providence that 
Anneke and I were to perish together, a strange sound inter- 
rupted the fearful natural accessories of that frightful scene. I 
certainly heard the beUs of a sleigh ; at first they seemed distant 
and broken — then nearer and incessant, attended by the rum- 
bling of runners on the ice. I took off my cap and pressed my 
head, for I feared my brain was unsettled. There it came, 
however, more and more distinctly, until the trampling of 
horses' hoofs mingled in the noise. 

" Can there be others as unhappy as ourselves 1" exclaimed 
Anneke, forgetting her own fears in generous sympathy. "See, 
Littlcpagc ! — sec, dear Cornelius — yonder surely comes another 
sleigh!" 

Come it did, like the tempest, or the whirlwinds ; passmg 
within fifty feet of us. I knew it at a glance. It was the sleigh 
of Hennau Mordaunt, empty ; with the horses, maddened by 
terror, running wherever their fears impelled. As the sleigh 
passed, it was thrown on one side ; then it was once more 
whirled up again ; and it went out of sight, with the rumbling 
sound of the runners mingling with the jingling of bells and the 
tramp of hoofs. 

At this instant a loud, distant cry from a human voice, was 
certainly heard. It seemed to me, as if some one called my 



SATANSTOE. 27i 

name ; and Anuekc said, slie so understood it, too. The call, 
if call it was, came from the south, and from under the western 
sliorc. At the next moment, awful reports proceeded from tho 
barrier above ; and, as passing an arm around the slender waist 
of my lovely companion, to sujiport her, I began a rapid move- 
ment in the direction of that call. While attempting to reach 
the western shore, I had observed a high mound of broken ice, 
that was floating down ; or ratlier, was pressed down on the 
smooth sui'fjxce of the frozen river, in advance of the smaller 
cakes that came by in the current. It was increasing in size 
by accessions from these floating cakes, and threatened to form 
a new dam at some narrow pass below, as soon as of sufficient 
size. It occurred to me we should be temporarily safe could 
we reach that mound, for it rose so high as to be above danger 
from the water. Tliither, then, I ran, almost carrying Anneke 
on my arm ; our speed increased by the terrific sounds from tho 
dam above us. 

"We reached the mound, and found the cakes so piled, as to 
be able to ascend them ; though not without an eftort. After 
getting up a layer or two, the broken mass became so irregular 
and ragged, as to render it necessary for me to mount first, and 
then to drag Anneke up after me. This I did, until exhausted ; 
and we both seated ourselves on the edge of a cake, in order 
to recover our breath. "While there, it struck me, that new 
sounds arose from the river ; and, bending forward to examine, 
I saw that the water had forced its way through the dam above 
and was coming down upon us in a toiTcnt. 



2l2 SATAN S TOE. 



ClIAPTEU XVII. 

' My heart leaps up wlien I boluiUl 
A rainbow in the sky: 
So was it when my life began; 
Bii is it now I am a man ; 
So be it when I shall grow oM, 

Or lot mo (lie I 

" The child is father of the man ; 
And I could wish my days to be 
Bound each to each by natural plenty." 

AVc/i'.nswor.Tit. 

Five minutes longer on the ice of tlic main cLanncl, and wo 
should have been swept away. Even as we still sat looking ni 
the frightful force of the swift current, as Avell as the dim hght 
of that clouded night would permit, I saw Guert Ten Eyck's 
Kleigh Avhirl past us ; and, only a minute later, Ilerman Mor- 
dauut's followed ; the poor exhausted beasts struggling in the 
hamcss for freedom, that they might swim for their lives. 
Anneke heard the snorting of those wretched horses ; but her 
unpractised eyes did not detect them, immersed, as they were, 
in the current ; nor had she recognized the sleigh that whirled 
past us, as her father's. A little later, a fearful shriek came 
from one of the fettered beasts ; such a heart-piercing cry as it 
is known the horse often gives. I said nothing on the subject, 
knowing that love for her father was one of the great incentives 
which had aroused my companion to exertion ; and being 
unwilling to excite fears that Avere now latent. 

Two or three minutes of rest were all that circumstances 
permitted. I could see that every thing visible on the river 
was in motion dowuAvard ; the piles of ice on which we were 
placed, as well as the cakes that glanced by us in their quicker 
descent. Our own motion Avas slow, on account of the mass 



SATANSTOE. Zio 

which doubtless pressed on the shoals of the west side of the 
river ; as well as ou account of the friction against the lateral 
fields of ice, and occasionally against the shore. Still we were 
in motion ; and I felt the necessity, on every account, of getting 
as soon as possible on the western verge of our floating island, 
in order to profit by any favorable occurrence that might offer. 

Dear Anueke ! — How admirably did she behave that fearful 
night ! From the moment she regained her entire conscious- 
ness, after I found her praying in the bottom of the sleigh, 
down to that instant, she had been as little of an encumbrance 
to my own efforts, as was at all possible. Eeasonable, resolute, 
compliant, and totally without any ill-timed exhibition of 
womanly apprehension, she had done all she was desired to do 
unhesitatingly, and with intelligence. In ascending that pile 
of ice, by no means an easy task under any circumstances, we 
had acted in perfect concert, every effort of mine being aided 
by one of her own, directed by my advice and greater expe- 
rience. 

" God has not deserted us, dearest Anueke," I said, now 
that my companion's strength appeared to have returned, *' and 
we may yet hope to escape. I can anticipate the joy we shall 
bring to your father's heart, Avhcn he again takes you to his 
arms, safe and uninjured." 

"Dear, dear father ! — What agony he must now be suiki 
ing on my account. Come, Corny, let us go to him at once, 
if it be possible." 

As this was said, the precious girl arose, and adjusted her 
tippet in a way that should cause her no encumbrance ; like one 
ready to set about the execution of a serious task with all her 
energies. The muff' had been dropped on the river ; for neither 
of us had any sensibility to cold. The night, however, was 
quite mild, for the season ; and we probably should not have 
suffered, had our exertions been less violent. Anueke declared 
herself ready to proceed, and I commenced the difficult and 
delicate task of aiding her across an island composed of icy 
fragments, in order to reach its wct^tcrn margin. We were 



274 SATANSTOE. 

quite thirty feet in tlic air; and a fall into any of the numerous 
caverns among wliicli wc bad to proceed, miglit have been 
fatal ; certainly would have crippled the sufferer. Then the 
surface of the ice was so smooth as to render walking on it an 
exceedingly delicate operation ; more especially as the cakes 
lay at all manner of inclinations to the plane of the horizon. 
Fortunately, I wore buckskin moccasins over my boots; and 
their rough leather aided me gi'eatly in mamtaining my footing. 
Anneke, too, had socks of cloth ; without which I do not 
think she could have possibly moved. By these aids, however, 
and by proceeding with the utmost caution, we had actually 
succeeded in attaining our object, when the floating mass shot 
into an eddy, and turning slowly round under this new influence, 
placed us on the outer side of the island again ! Not a murmur 
escaped Anneke, at this disappointment ; but, with a sweetness 
of temper that spoke volumes in favor of her natural disposition, 
and a resignation that told her training, she professed a readi- 
ness to renew her eftbrts. To this I would not consent, how- 
ever ; for I saw that the eddy was still whirling us about ; and 
I thought it best to escape from its influence altogether, before 
we threw away our strength fruitlessly. Instead of rccrossing 
the pile, therefore, I told my fair companion that avc would 
descend to a cake that lay level on the water, and which pro- 
jected from the mass to such a distance as to be close to the 
shore, should we again get near it. This descent was made, 
after some trouble, though I was couipcUed to receive Anneke 
entirely into my arms, in order to eflect it. Effect it I did ; 
placing the sweet girl safely at my side, on the outermost and 
lowest of all the cakes in our confused pile. 

In some respects this change was for the better, Avhile it did 
not improve our situation in others. It placed both Anneke 
and myself behind a shelter, as respected the wind ; which 
though neither very strong nor very cold, had enough of March 
about it to render the change acceptable. It took my com- 
panion, too, from a position Avhcre motion was difiicult, and 
often dangerous ; leaving her on a level, even spot, where she 



SATANSTOE. 275 

could walk with case and security, and keep tlic blood in 
motion by exercise. Then it put us both in the best possible 
situation to profit by any contact with that shore, along and 
near which our island was now slowly moving. 

There could no longer be any doubt of the state of the river 
in general. It had broken up ; spring had come like a thief in 
the night ; and the ice below having given way, while the mass 
above had acquired too much power to be resisted, every thing 
was set in motion ; and like the death of the strong man, the 
disruption of fields in themselves so thick and adhesive, had 
produced an agony surpassing the usual struggle of the seasons. 
Nevertheless, the downward motion had begun in earnest, and 
the centre of the river was running like a sluice, carrying away 
in its current, those masses which had just before formed so 
menacing an obstacle above. 

Luckily, our own pile was a little aside from the great down- 
ward rush. I have since thouglit, that it touched the bottom, 
which caused it to turn, as well as retarded its movement. Be 
this as it might, we still remained in a little bay slowly turning 
in a circle; and glad was I to see our low cake coming round 
again, in sight of the Avestern shore. The moment now de- 
manded decision ; and I prepared Anneke to meet it. A 
large, low, level cake had driven up on the shore, and extended 
out so far as to promise that our own cake would touch it, in 
its evolutions. I kncAV that the ice in general, had not broken 
in consequence of any weakness of its own, but purely under 
the weight of the enormous pressure from above, and the mighty 
force of the current ; and that we ran little, or no risk, in 
trusting our persons on the uttermost limits of any considerable 
fragment. A station was taken, accordingly, near a projection 
of the cake we were on ; when we waited for the expected con- 
tact. At such moments the slightest disappointment carries 
with it tlie force of the greatest circumstances. Several times 
did it appear to us that our island was on the point of touch- 
ing the fastened cake, and as often did it incline aside ; at no 
time coming nearer than within six or eight feet. This distance 



270 SATANSTOE, 

it would luu'c been easy enougli for me to leap across, but to 
Anneke it was a barrier as impassable as the illimitable void. 
The sweet girl saw this ; and she acted like herself under tlio 
circumstances. She took my hand, pressed it, and said ear- 
nestly, and with patient sweetness — 

" You sec how it is, Corny ; I am not permitted to escape ; 
but you can easily reach the shore. Go, then, and leave me in 
the hands of Providence. Go ; I never can forget what you 
have already done ; but it is useless to perish together !" 

I have never doubted that Anneke was perfectly sincere in 
her wish that I should, at least, save my own life. The feeling 
with which she spoke ; the despair that was coming over her ; 
and the movement of our island, which at that moment gave 
signs of shooting away from the shore altogether, roused me to 
a sudden, and certainly, to a very bold attempt. I tremble, 
even at this distance of time, as I write the particulars. A small 
cake of ice Avas floating in between us and that which lay firmly 
fastened to the shor^. Its size was such as to allow it to pass 
between the two ; though not without coming nearly, if not 
absolutely, in contact with one, if not with both. I observed 
all this ; and saying one word of encouragement to Anneke, I 
passed an arm around her waist — waited the proper moment — ■ 
and sprang forward. It was necessary to make a short leap, 
with my precious burden on my arm, in order to gain this 
floating bridge ; but it was done, and successfully. Scarcely 
permitting Anneke' s foot to touch this frail support, which was 
already sinking under our joint Aveight, I crossed it at tAvo or 
three steps, and threw all my poAver into a last and desperate 
effort. I succeeded here, also ; and fell upon the firmer cake 
Avith a heart filled with gratitude to God. The touch told me 
that Ave Avere safe ; and in the next instant Ave reached the 
solid ground. Under such circumstances, one usually looks 
back to examine the danger he has just gone through. I did 
so ; and saAV that the floating cake of ice had already passed 
down, and Avas out of reach ; Avhilc the mass that had been the 
means of savine: US', Avas slowly folluwinir, under some new im- 



SATAN ST OE. 211 

fjulso received from the furious currents of the river. But we 
were saved ; and most devoutly did I thank my God, who hatl 
mercifully aided our escape from perils so imminent. 

I was compelled to wait for Anneke, who fell upon her knees, 
and remained there quite a minute, before I could aid her in 
ascending the steep acclivity which formed the western bank of 
the Hudson, at this particular point. We reached the top, 
however, after a little delay, and pausing once or twice to take 
breath : when we first became really sensible of the true char- 
acter of the scene from which Ave had been delivered. Dim as 
Avas the liccht, there Avas enouo;h to enable us to overlook a con- 
siderable reach of the river, from that elevated stand. The 
Hudson resembled chaos rushing headlong between the banks. 
As for the cakes of ice — some darting past singly, and others 
piled as high as houses — of course the stream was filled with 
such; but, a large, dark object was seen coming through that 
very channel over Avhich Anneke and I had stood less than an 
hour before, sailing doAvn the current with fearful rapidity. It 
Avas a house ; of no great size, it is true, but largo enough to 
present a singular object on the river. A bridge, of some size, 
foUoAved ; and a sloop, that had been borne away from the 
Avharvcs of Albany, soon appeared in the strange assemblage, 
that Avas thus suddenly collected on this great artery of the 
colony. 

But the hour Avas late ; Anneke Avas yet to care for ; it Avas 
necessary to seek a shelter. Still supporting my lovely com- 
panion, Avho noAv began to express her uneasiness on account of 
her father and her other friends, I held the Avay inland ; know- 
ing that there Avas a high road parallel to the river, and at no 
gi-eat distance from it. We reached the highAvay in the course 
of ten minutes, and turned our faces nortliAvard, as the direc- 
tion Avhich led toward Albany. We had not advanced far 
before I heard the voices of men, Avho were coming tOAvard 
us ; and glad Avas I to recognize that of Dirck Follock among 
the number. I called aloud, and Avas ansAvered by a shout of 
exultation, which, as I afterward discovered, sjjontaiicuusly 



2V8 SATANSTOE. 

broke out of liis mouth, wlicii lie recognized the form of Au- 
neke. Dirck was powerfully agitated when we joined him ; I 
had never, previously, seen any thing like such a burst of feel- 
ing from him ; and it was some time before I could address 
him. 

" Of course your whole party is safe ?" I asked, a little doubt- 
ingly ; for I had actually given up all who had been in Herman 
Mordaunt's sleigh for lost. 

" Yes, thank God ! all but the sleigh and horses. But where 
are Guert Ten Eyck and Miss Wallace ?" 

"Gone ashore on the other side of the river; we parted, 
and they took that direction, while wc came hither." I said 
this to quiet Annekc's fears ; but I had misgivings about their 
having got oil' the river at all. " But let me know the manner 
of your own escape." 

Dirck then gave us a history of what had passed ; the whole 
party turning back to accompany us as soon as I told them 
that their errand — a search for the horses — was useless. The 
substance of what we heard was as follows : — in the first effort 
to reach the Avcstern shore, Herman Mordaunt had been met 
by the very obstacle which Guert had foreseen, and he turned 
south, hoping to find some spot at which to land, by going 
farther from the dam that had formed above. After repeated 
eftbrts, and having nearly lost his sleigh and the whole party, a 
point was reached at Avhich Herman Mordaunt determined to 
get his female companion on shore, at every hazard. This was 
to be done only by crossing floating cakes of ice, in a current 
that was already running at the rate of four or five miles in the 
hour. Dirck was left in charge of the horses while the experi- 
ment was made ; but seeing the adventurers in great danger, he 
flew to their assistance — when the whole party were immersed, 
though not in deep water. Left to themselves, and alarmed 
w ith the floundering in the river and the grinding of the cakes, 
Herman Mordaunt' s bays went off in the confusion. Mrs. 
Bogart was assisted to the land, and was helped to reach the 
nearest dwelling — a comfortable farm-house, about a quarter of 



SATANSTOE. 279 

a mile bcyornl tlie point -vWiere we liad met tlae party. There 
Mi-s. Bogai-t had been placed in a warm bed, and the gentlemen 
were supplied with such dry clothes as the rustic wardrobe of 
these simple people coiild furnish. The change made, Dirck 
was on his way to ascertain what had become of the sleigh and 
horses, aa has been mentioned. 

On inquiry, I found that the spot where Anneke and myself 
had landed, was quite three miles below the island on which 
Guert and I had drawn the sleigh. Nearly the whole of this 
distance had we floated with the pile of broken ice, in the short 
time we were on it ; a proof of the furious rate at which the 
current was setting downward. No one had heard any thing 
of Guert and Mary ; but I encouraged my companion to believe 
that they were necessarily safe on the other shore. I certainly 
deemed this to be very questionable, but there was no use in 
anticipating evil. 

On reaching the fami-house, Ilerman Mordauut's delight and 
gratitude may more easily be imagined than described. He 
folded Anneke to his heart, and she wept like an infant on his 
bosom. Nor was I forgotten in this touching scene, but came 
in for a full share of notice. 

" I want no details, noble yomig man — " I am professing to 
write the truth, and must be excused for relating such things 
as these, but — "I want no details, noble young man," said 
Herman Mordaunt, squeezing my hand, "to feel certain that, 
under God, I owe my child's life, for the second time, to you. 
I wish to heaven ! — but, no matter — it is now too late — some 
other Avay may and must offer. I scarce know what I say, 
Littlcpage ; but what I mean is, to express faintly, some small 
portion of the gratitude I feel, and to let you know how sen- 
sibly and deeply your services are felt and appreciated." 

TTie reader may think it odd, that this incoherent, but preg- 
nant speech, made little impression on me at the time, beyond 
the grateful conviction of having really rendered the greatest of 
all services to Anneke and her father ; though I had better 
occasion to remember it afterward. 



280 SATANSTOE. 

It is unnecessary to dwell more? particularly on the occur- 
rences at tlie farm-house. The worthy people did what they 
could to make us comfortable, and we were all warm in Led in 
the course of the next half-hour. 

On the following morning a wagon Avas harnessed, and we 
left these simple countrymen and women — who refused every 
thing like compensation, as a matter of course — and proceeded 
homeward. I have heard it said that we Americans are merce- 
nary ; it may be so, but not a man, probably, exists in the col- 
onies, who would accept money for such assistance. We wci'e 
two hours in reaching Albany, on wheels ; and entered the 
place about ten, in a very different style from that in which we 
had quitted it the day before. As we drove along, the high- 
way frequently led us to points that commanded views of the 
river, and we had so many opportunities of noting the effects 
of the freshet. Of ice, very little remained. Here and there 
a cake or a pile was seen still adhering to the shore, and occa- 
sionally fragments floated downward ; but, as a rule, the tor- 
rent had swept all before it. I particularly took notice of the 
island on which we had sought refuge. It was entirely under 
water, but its outUncs were to be traced by the bushes which 
lined its low banks. Most of the trees on its upper end were 
cut down, and all that grew on it would unquestionably have 
gone, had not the dam given way as early as it did. A great 
number of trees had been broken down on all the islands ; and 
large tops and heavy trunks were still floating in the current, 
that were lately tenants of the forest, and had been violently 
torn from their places. 

We found all the lower part of Albanj'^, too, under water. 
Boats were actually moving through the streets ; a considerable 
portion of its inhabitants having no other means of communi- 
cating with their neighbors. A sloop of some size lay up on 
one of the lowest spots ; and, as the Avater Avas already subsid- 
ing, it Avas said she Avould remain there until removed by the 
shipAvrights. Nobody Avas droAvncd in the place ; for it is not 
usual for the people of these colonics to renin in in their beds, 



SATANSTOE. 281 

at such tiiucs, to await the appearance of the enemy in at their 
windows. Wo often read of such accidents destroying hun- 
dreds in the Old World ; but in the New, human life is of too 
much account to be unnecessarily thrown away, and so we make 
some efforts to preserve it. 

As we drove into the street in which Herman Mordaunt lived, 
Ave heard a shout, and turning our heads, we saw Guert Ten 
Eyck waving his cap to us, with joy delineated in every feature 
of his handsome face. At the next moment he was at our side. 

" Mr. Herman Mordaunt," he cried, shaking that gentleman 
most cordially by the hand, " I look upon you as one raised 
from the dead ; you and my excellent neighbor, Mrs. Bogart, 
and Mr. Follock, here ! How you got off the river is a mystery 
to me, for I well know that the water commonly breaks through 
first under the Avest shore. Corny and Miss Anneke — God bless 
you both ! Mary Wallace is in terror lest ill news come from 
some of you ; but I will run ahead and let her know the glad 
tidings. It is but five minutes since I left her, starting at every 
sound, lest it prove the foot of some ill-omened messenger." 

Guert stopped to say no more. In a minute he was inside 
of Herman Mordaunt' s house — in another Anneke and Mary 
Wallace were locked in each other's arms. After exchanging 
salutes, Mrs. Bogart was conveyed to her own residence and 
there was a termination to that memorable expedition. 

Guert had less to communicate, in the Avay of dangers and 
marvels, than I had anticipated. It seemed, that when he and 
Miss Wallace reached the inner margin of the last island, a 
large cake of ice had entered the strait, and got jammed ; or 
rather, that it went through, forced by the tremendous pressure 
above ; though not without losing large masses, as it came in 
contact with the shores, and grinding much of its material into 
powder, by the attrition. Guert' s presence of mind and decis- 
ion did him excellent service here. Without delaying an instant, 
the moment it was in his power, he led Mary on that cake, 
and crossed the narrow branch of the river, which alone sepa- 
rated him from the mainland, on it, dry-shod. The water Avas 



282 SATANSTOE. 

beginning to find its way over tliis cake, as it usually did on all 
those that lay low, and which even stopped in their progress ; 
but this did not ofier any serious obstacles to persons who werj 
so prompt. Safe themselves, our friends remained to see if we 
could not be induced to join them ; and the call we heard, was 
from Guert, who had actually recrosscd to the island, in the 
hope of meeting us, and directing us to a place of safety. Guert 
never said any thing to me on the subject, himself; but I sub- 
sequently gathered from Mary Wallace's accounts, that the 
young man did not rejoin her without a good deal of hazard 
and difficulty, and after a long and fruitless search for his com- 
panions. Finding it useless to remain any longer on the river- 
side, Guert and his companion held their way toward Albany. 
About midnight they reached the ferry opposite to the town ; 
having walked quite six miles, filled with imeasiness on account 
of those who had been left behind. Guert was a man of decis- 
ion, and he Avisely determined it would be better to proceed, 
than to attempt waking up the inmates of any of the houses he 
passed. The river was now substantially free from ice, though 
running with great velocity. But Guert Avas an expert oars- 
man ; and finding a skiff, he persuaded Mary Wallace to enter 
it ; actually succeeding, by means of the eddies, in landing her 
within ten feet of the very spot where the hand-sled had de- 
posited him and myself, only a few days before. From this 
point, there was no difficulty in walking home; and Miss 
Wallace actually slept in her own bed, that eventful night, if 
indeed she could sleep. 

Such was the termination of this adventure ; one that I have 
rightly termed memorable. In the end, Jack and Moses came 
in safe and sound ; having probably swum ashore. They were 
found in the public road, only a short distance from the town, 
and were brought in to their master the same day. Every one 
who took any interest in horses — and what Dutchman does 
not ? — ^knew Jack and Moses, and there Avas no difficulty in 
ascertaining to whom they belonged. What is singular, how- 
ever, both sleighs were recovered ; though at long intervals of 



SATANSTOK. 283 

time, and under very different circumstances. That of Gucrt, 
wolves' skins and all, actually went down tlie wliole length of 
the river on the ice ; passing o;it to sea through the Narrows. 
It must have gone by New York in the night, or doubtless it 
would have been picked up ; while the difficulty of reaching it, 
Avas its protector ou the descent, above the town. Once outside 
of the Narrows, it was thrown by the tide and winds upon the 
shore of Staten Island ; where it was hauled to land, housed, 
and being properly advertised in our New York paper, Guert 
actually got tidings of it in time to receive it, skins and all, by 
one of the first sloops that ascended the Hudson that year; 
which was within a fortnight after the river had opened. The 
year 1758 was one of great activity, on account of the move- 
ments of the army, and no time was then unnecessarily lost. 

The history of Herman Mordaunt's sleigh was very different. 
The poor bays must have drowned soon after we saw them 
floating past us in the torrent. Of course, life had no sooner 
left them, than they sank to the bottom of the river, caiTying 
with them the sleigh to which they were still attached. In a 
few days the animals rose to the surface — as is usual with all 
swollen bodies — bringing up the sleigh again. In this condition, 
the wreck was overtaken by a downward-bound sloop, the men 
of which saved the sleigh, harness, skins, foot-stoves, and such 
other articles as Avould not float away. 

Our adventure made a good deal of noise in the circle of 
Albany ; and I have reason to think that my own conduct was 
approved by those who heard it. Bulstrode paid me an espe- 
cial visit of thanks, the very day of my return, when the fol- 
lowing conversation took place between us ; 

"You seem fated, my dear Corny," the major observed, 
after he had paid the usual compliments, "to be always serving 
me in the most material way, and I scarcely know how to ex- 
press all I feel on the occasion. First, the lion, and now this 
affair of the river — but that Guert will drown or make away 
with the whole family, before the summer is over, unless Mr. 
Mordaunt puts a stop to his interference." 



284 SATANSTOE. 

" This accident Avns one that might have overtaken tlie oldest 
and most prudent man in Albany. The river seemed as solid 
as the street when Ave went on it ; and another hour, even as it 
was, would have brought us all home in entire safety." 

"Ay, but that hour came near bringing death and desolation 
into the most charming family in the colony ; and you have 
been the means of averting the heaviest part of the blow. I 
wish to heaven, Littlepage, that you would consent to come 
into the army ! Join us as a volunteer, the moment we move, 
and I will write to Sir Ilarry to obtain a pair of colors for you. 
As soon as he liears that we are indebted to your coolness and 
courage for the life of Miss Mordaunt, he will move heaven 
and earth to manifest his gratitude. The instant this good pa- 
rent made up his mind to accept Miss Mordaunt as a daughter, 
he began to consider her as a child of his own." 

" And Anneke — Miss Mordaunt herself, Mr. Bulstrode — docs 
she regard Sir Harry as a father ?' ' 

" Why, that must be coming by slow degrees, as a matter of 
course, you know. Women are slower than us men to admit 
such totally novel impressions ; and I dare say Aimeke fancies 
one father enough for her, just at this moment ; though she 
sends very pleasant messages to Sir Ilany, I can assure you, 
when in the humor ! But what makes you so grave, my good 
Corny?" 

*' Mr. Bulstrode, I conceive it no more than fair, to be as 
honest as yourself in this matter. You have told me that you 
are a suitor for Miss Mordaunt' s hand; I will now own to you 
that I am your rival." 

My companion heard this declaration with a quiet smile, and 
the most perfect good-nature. 

" So you actually wish to become the husband of Anneke 
Mordaunt, yourself, my dear Corny, do you ?" he said, so 
coolly, that I was at a loss to know of Avhat sort of materials 
the man could be made. 

"I do. Major Bulstrode — it is the first and last wish of my 
heart." 



SATANSTOE. 285 

" Since you seem disposed to reciprocate my confidence you 
will not take offence if I ask you a question or two 1" 

" Certainly not, sir ; your own frankness shall be a rule for 
my government." 

" Have you ever let Miss Mordaunt know that sucli are your 
wishes?" 

"I have, sir; and that in the plainest terms — such as cannot 
well be misunderstood." 

"What! last night ?— On that infernal ice '.—While she 
thought her life was in your hands !" 

" Nothing was said on the subject, last night, for avo had 
other thoughts to occupy our minds." 

"It would have been a most ungenerous thing to take ad- 
vantage of a lady's fears — " 

" Major Bulstrode ! — I cannot submit — " 

"Hush, my dear Corny," interrupted the other, holding out 
a hand in a most quiet and friendly manner ; "there must be 
no misunderstanding between you and me. Men are never 
greater simpletons than when they let the secret consciousness 
of their love of life push them into swaggering about their 
honor ; when their honor has, in fact, nothing to do with the 
matter in hand. I shall not quarrel with you ; and must beg 
you, in advance, to receive my apologies for any little indecorum 
into which I may be betrayed by surprise ; as for great pieces 
of indecorum, I shall endeavor to avoid thcm.^'' 

"Enough has been said, Mr. Bulstrode ; I am no wrangler, 
to quarrel with a shadow ; and, I trust, not jn the least that 
most contemptible of all human beings, a social bully, to be on 
all occasions menacing the sword or the pistol. Such men 
usually do nothing when matters come to a crisis. Even when 
they fight they fight bunglingly and innocently." 

" You are right, Littlepage, and I honor your sentiments. I 
have remarked that the most expert swordsman with his tongue, 
and the deadest shot at a shingle, are commonly as innocent as 
lambs of the shedding of blood on the ground. They can some- 
tlmcs screw themselves up to meet n\. adversary, but it exceeds 



286 SATANSTOE. 

their powers to use their weapons properly, when it comes to 
serious work. Tlie swaggerer is ever a coward at heart, however 
well he may wear a mask for a time. But enough of this. We 
understand each other, and are to remain friends under all cir- 
cumstances. May I question further V 

^^ Ask what you please, Bulstrode — I shall answer, or not, at 
my own discretion." 

" Then permit me to inquire, if Major Littlcpage has au- 
thorized you to offer proper settlements ?" 

" I am authorized to offer nothing. Nor is it usual for the 
husband to make settlements on his wife, in these colonics, 
further than what the law does for her, in favor of her own. 
The father sometimes has a care for the third generation. I 
should expect Herman Mordaunt to settle his estate on his 
daughter, and her rightful heirs, let her marry whom she may." 

" Ay, that is a very American notion ; and one on which 
Herman Mordaunt, who remembers his extraction, will be little 
likely to act. AVell, Corny, we are rivals, as it would seem ; 
but that is no reason we should not remain friends. We under- 
stand each other — though, perhaps, I ought to tell you all." 

" I shoidd be glad to know all, Mr. Bulstrode ; and can 
meet my fate, I hope, like a man. Whatever it may cost me, 
if Anneke prefer anothci-, her happiness will be dearer to nie 
than my own." 

" Yes, my dear fellow, we all say and think so at one-and- 
twenty ; wliich is about your age, I believe. At /li/o-and-twenty, 
we begin to see that our own happiness has an equal claim on 
us; and at ihr ee-and-tv,-cntj we even give it the preference. 
However, I will be just if I am selfish. I have no reason to 
believe Anne Mordaunt does prefer me ; though my 'p<^'>'hcips 
is not altogether without a meaning eitiier." 

"In which case I may possibly be permitted to know 1o 
what it refers ?" 

" It refers to the father ; and I can tell you, my fine follow, 
that fathers are of some account, in the arrangement of mar- 
riages between parties of any standing. Had not Sir Ilany 



SATANSTOE. 28T 

autliorized iny own proposals, where should I have been ? Not 
a farthing of settlement could I have oflfcred, while he remained 
Sir Ilarry ; notwithstanding I had the prodigious advantage of 
the entail. I can tell you what it is, Corny ; the existing power 
is always an important power, since we all think more of the 
present time than of the future. That is the reason so few 
of us get to heaven. As for Herman Mordaunt, I deem it no 
more than fair to tell you he is on my side, heart and hand. 
He likes my offers of settlement ; he likes my family ; he likes 
my rank, civil and military ; and I am not altogether without 
the hope that he likes »ie." 

I made no direct answer, and the conversation soon changed. 
Bulstrode's declaration, however, caused me to remember both 
the speech and manner of Herman Mordaunt, when ho thanked 
me for saving his daughter's life. I now began to reflect on it ; 
and reflected on it much during the next few months. In the 
end reader the will learn the eflect it had on my happiness. 



28S S A T A N S T O K , 



CUAPTER XVIII. 

" Good sir, why do you start ; find seem to foar 
Things that do sound so fair ? I' the name of trutiv, 
Are ye fantasticiil, or tliat indeed 
"Which outwardly ye show ?" 

Basquo 

As I have said already, the adventure on the river made a 
good deal of noise in that simple community ; and it had the 
effect to render Guert and myself a sort of heroes, in a small 
•svay ; bringing mo much more into notice than would otherwise 
have been the case. I thought that Guert, in particular, would 
be likely to reap its benefit ; for various elderly persons, Avho 
Avere in the habit of froAvning whenever his name was men- 
tioned, I was given to understand could now smile ; and two 
or three of the most severe among the Albany moralists, were 
heard to say that, " after all, there was some good about that 
Guert Ten Eyck." The reader will not require to be told, 
that a high-school moralist, in a place as retired and insulated 
as Albany, must necessarily be a being that became subject to 
a very severe code. Morality, as I understand the matter, has 
a good deal of convention about it. There is town morality 
and country morality, all over the world, as they tell me. But 
in America our morals were, and long have been, separated 
into three great and very distinct classes ; viz. — New England 
or Puritan morals ; middle colonies, or liberal morals ; and 
southern colonics, or latitudinarian morals. I shall not pretend 
to point out all the shades of difference in these several schools ; 
though that in which I had myself been taught, was neces- 
sarily the most in conformity with my own tastes. There 
were minor shades to be found in the same school ; Guert and 
mvself belonging to different classes. His morals were of the 



SATANSTOE. 289 

Dutcli class ; while mine more properly belonged to the Eng- 
lish. The great characteristic of the Dutch school, was the ten- 
dency to excess that prevailed, when indulgences were sought. 
"With them, it did not rain often ; but when it did rain, it was 
pretty certain to pour. Old Colonel FoUock was a case in point, 
on this score ; nor was his son Dirck, young and diffident as 
he was, altogether an exception to the rule. .There was not a 
more respectable man in the colony, in the main, than Colonel 
Van Valkeuburgh. He was well connected ; had a handsome, 
unencumbered estate, and money at interest ; was a principal 
prop in the church of his neighborhood ; was esteemed as a 
good husband ; a good father ; a true friend ; a kind neighbor ; 
an excellent and loyal subject, and a thoroughly honest man. 
Nevertheless Colonel Van Valkenburgh had his weak times and 
seasons. He would have a frolic ; and the Dominie was obliged 
to wink at this propensity. Mr, Worden often nicknamed him 
Colonel Frolic. His frolics might be diNided into two classes ; 
viz., the moderate and the immoderate. Of the first, he had two 
or three turns a year ; and these were the occasions on which 
he commonly visited Satanstoe, or had my father with him 
at Rockrockarock, as his own place in Rockland was called. 
On these visits, whether to or from, there was a large consump- 
tion of tobacco, beer, cider, wine, rum, lemons, sugar, and the 
other ingredients of punch, toddy, and flip ; but no outrageously 
durable excesses. There was much laughing, a great deal of good 
feeling, many stories, and regular repetitions of old adventures, 
in the way of traditional narrations ; but nothing that could be 
called decided excesses. It is true, that my grandfather, and 
my father, and the Rev. Mr. Worden, and Colonel FoUock, were 
much in the habit of retiring to their beds a little confused in 
their brains — the consequence of so much tobacco-smoke, as 
Mr. Worden always maintained ; but every thing was decent, 
and in order. The parson, for instance, invariably pulled up 
on a Friday, and did not take his place in the circle until Mon- 
day evening again ; which gave him fully twenty-four hours to 
pool off in, before he ascended the pulpit. I will say this for 
;3 



290 SATANSTOE. 

Mr. Worden, tliat lie was very systematic and metliodical in 
tlie perfomiance of all Lis duties ; and I Lave known Lim, wLcn 
Le happened to be late at dinner, on discovering tLat iny fatLei 
Lad omitted to say grace, insist on eveiy body's laying down 
their knives and forks, wLile Le asked a blessing ; even tLougL 
it were after tLe fisL was actually eaten. No, no ; Mr. Worden 
was a particular , pci^on about all sucL tilings ; and it was gen- 
erally admitted, tLat Le Lad been tLe means of causing grace 
to be introduced into several families in WestcLester, in wLich 
it Lad never been tLe practice to Lave it before Lis example 
and precepts were known to tLem. 

I Lad not been acquainted witL Guert Ten Eyck a fortnight, 
before I saw Le Lad a tendency to tLe same sort of excesses as 
tLose to wLicL Colonel Van Valkcnburgli was addicted. TLere 
was an old FrencL Iluguenot living near Satan stoe — or ratlier, 
tLe son of one, wLo still spoke Lis father's language — and who 
used to call Colonel Pollock's frolics Lis '■'■ f/rands couchcrs,''^ 
and Lis '■'■ 2)etiis couchers ;"* inasmucL as Le usually got to bed 
at tLe last, witLout assistance ; wLilc at tLe first, it was indis- 
pensable tLat some aid sLould be proffered. It was tLesc * 
"gi'ands coucLers" at wLicL my father never assisted. On 
these occasions, the colonel invariably held his orgies over in 
Rockland, in the society of men of purely Dutch extraction ; 
there being sometLing exclusive in tLe enjoyment. I Lave 
Leard it said tLat these last frolics sonietinics lasted a week, on 
really important occasions ; during tLe wLole of wLicL time tLe 

* In plain English, the "^eat go-to-beii," antl the " little go-to-bcd." There may 
be a portion of our readers who are not aware that the word " levee," meaning a morn- 
ing reception by a great man. is derived from the French " lever," which means "to 
rise," or "to get up." The kings of France were in the hahit of receiving homage at 
their morning toilets; a strange custom, that doubtless had its origin in the empresse- 
inent of the courtier ti inquire how his master had slept ; which receptions were 
divided into two classes, the " grand lover" and the '''' petit lever" — the " great get* 
ting-up" or the "little getting-up." The first was an occasion of more state than the 
last. Even down to the time of Charles X., the court papers seldom went a week 
without announcing that the king had signed the contract of marriage — a customftry 
compliment in France, among friends of this or that personage — at the "grand lever," 
or at the " petit lever;" the first, I believe, but am not certain, being the greater honor 
of the two. — Editor. 



SATANSTOE. 291 

colonel and all near him were as happy as lords. These 
" grands couchers,^^ however, occurred but rarely — coming 
round, as it might be, like leap-years, just to regulate the cal- 
endar, and adjust the time. 

As for my new friend, Guert, he made no manifestation 
toward a ^^ grand couchcr'''' during the time I remained at 
Albany — this his attachment to Mary Wallace forbade — but I 
discovered by means of hints and allusions, that he had been 
engaged in one or two such affairs, and that there was still a 
longing for them in his bones. It was owing to her conscious- 
ness of the existence of such weakness, and her own strong 
aversion to any thing of the sort, that I am persuaded Mary 
Wallace was alone induced to hesitate about accepting Guert' s 
weekly offer of his hand. The tenderness she evidently felt for 
him, now shone too obviously in her eyes to leave any doubt 
in my mind of Guert' s final success ; for what woman ever re- 
fused long to surrender, when the image of the besieger had 
taken its place in the citadel of her heart ! Even Anneke re- 
ceived Guert with much fevor, after his excellent behavior on 
the river ; and I fancied that every thing was going on most 
flatteringly for my friend, Avhile it seemed to me that I made 
no advances in my own suit. Such, at least, were my notions 
on the subject at the very moment when my new friend, as it 
appeared, was nearly driven to desperation. 

It was near the end of April, or about a month after our 
perilous adventure on the ice, that Guert came to seek me, one 
fine spring morning, with something very like despair depicted 
in his fine manly face. During the whole of that month, it 
ought to be premised, I had not dared to speak of love to 
Anneke. My attentions and visits were incessant and pointed, 
but my tongue had been silent. The difiidence of real admira- 
tion had held me tongue-tied ; and I foolishly fancied there 
would be something like presuming on the services I had so 
lately rendered, in urging my suit so soon after the occurrence 
of the events I have described. I had even the romance to 
Uiink it might be taking an undue advantage of Bulstrodc, to 



292 SATANSTOE. 

wish to press my claims at a moment when the common object 
of our suit might be supposed to feel the influence of a lively 
gratitude. These were the notions and sentiments of a very 
young man, it must be confessed ; but I do not know that I 
ought to feel ashamed of them. At all events, they existed ; 
and they had produced the effect I have mentioned, leaving 
me to fall each day, more desperately in love, while I made no 
sensible advances in preferring my suit. Guert was very much 
in the same situation, with this difference, however ; he made 
it a point to offer himself, distinctly, each Monday morning, 
invariably receiving for an answer "no ;" if the lady were to 
be pressed for a definite reply ; but leaving some glimmering of 
hope, should time be given for her to make up her mind. The 
visit of Guert' s, to which I have just alluded, was after one of 
the customary offers, and usual replies; the offer direct, and 
the " no," tempered by the doubting and thoughtful brow, the 
affectionate smile, and the tearful eye. 

"Corny," said my friend, throwing down his hat with a 
most rueful aspect ; for, winter having departed and spring 
come, we had all laid aside our fur caps — " Corny, I have just 
been refused again ! That word, ' no,' has got to be so com- 
mon with Mary Wallace, that I am afraid her tongue will never 
know how to utter a * yes !' Do you know, Corny, I have a 
great mind to consult Mother Doortjc !" 

"Mother who? — You do not mean Mr. Mayor's cook, 
surely!" 

" No ; Mother Doortjc. She is said to be the best for- 
tune-teller that has ever lived in Albany. But, perhaps, you 
do not believe in fortune-tellers; some people I know do 
not?" 

" I cannot say that I have much belief, or unbelief, on the 
subject, never having seen any thing of that sort." 

" Have they then no fortune-teller, no person who has the 
dark art in New York ?" 

" I have heard of such people, but have never had an oppor- 
tunity of seeing or hearing for myself. If you do go to see this 



bATANSTOE. 293 

Mother Dorricliy, or whatever you call her, I should like amaz- 
ingly to be of the party."* 

Guert Avas delighted to hear this, and he caught eagerly at 
the offer. If I would stand his friend he would go at once ; 
but he confessed he did not like to trust himself all alone in the 
woman's company. 

" I am, perhaps, the only man of my time of life, in Albany, 
who has not, sooner or later, consulted Mother Doortje ;" he 
added. *' I do not know how it is, but, somehow, I have never 
liked to tempt fortune by going to question her ! One never 
can tell what such a being may say ; and should it be evil, why 
it might make a man very miserable. I am sure I want no 
more trouble, as it is, than to find Mary Wallace so undeter- 
mined about having me!" 

"Then you do not mean to go after all! lam not only 
ready, but anxious to accompany you." 

" You mistake me, Corny. Go I will, now, though she tell 
me that which will cause me to cut my throat — but we must 
not go as we are ; we must disguise ourselves, in order that she 
may not know us. Every body goes disguised ; and then they 
have no opportunity of learning if she is in a good vein, or not, 
by seeing if she can tell any thing about their business or 
habits, in the first place. If she fail in that, I should not care 
a straw for any of the rest. So, go to work, Corny, and dress 
yourself for the occasion — borrow some clothes of the people in 
the house here, and come round to me, as soon as you please ; 
I shall be ready, for I often go disguised to frolics — yes, unlucky 
devil that I am, and come back disguised too 1 

Every thing was done as desired. By means of a servant 
in the tavern, I was soon equipped in a way that satisfied me 
was very successful ; inasmuch as I passed Dirck, in quitting 
the house, and my old confidential friend did not recognize me. 
Guert was in as good luck, as I actually asked himself for him- 

* Doortjc — pronounced Doort-yay — means Dorothea. Mr. Littlepago uses a sort of 
corruptionof tho pronnnciation. I well remember a fortune-teller of that name, ia 
Albany ; though it could not have been tho Doortjc of 175S. — Editoe. 



294 SATANSTOE. 

self, when lie opened tlie door for my admission. The laugh, 
and the handsome face, however, soon let me into the secret, 
and we sallied forth in high spirits ; almost forgetting our mis- 
givings concerning the future, in the fun of passing our acquain- 
tances in the street without being known. 

Guert was much more artistically and knowingly disguised, 
than I was myself. We both had put on the clothes of labor- 
ers ; Guert wearing a smock frock that he happened to own for 
his fishing occupations in summer — ^but I had my usual linen in 
view, and wore all the ordinary minor articles of my daily 
attire. My friend pointed out some of these defects, as we 
went along, and an attempt was made to remedy them. Mr. 
Worden coming in view, I determined to stop him, and speak 
to him in a disguised voice, in order to ascertain if it were 
possible to deceive him. 

" Your san'^ant, Tominie," I said, making an awkward bow, 
as soon as we got near enough to the parson to address him ; 
" be you tcr Tominie, that marries folk on a pinch ?" 

" Ay, or on a handful, liking the last best. Why, Corny, 
thou rogue, what docs all this mean ?" 

It was necessary to let Mr. Worden into the secret ; and he 
no sooner learned the business we were on, than he expressed a 
Avish to be of the party. As there was no declining, we now 
went to the inn, and gave him time to assume a suitable dis- 
guise. As the divine was a rigid observer of the costume of 
his profession, and was most strictly a man of his cloth, it was 
a very easy matter for him to make such a change in his exte- 
rior, as completely to render him incognito. When all was 
ready, we went finally forth, on our errand. 

"I go with you. Corny, on this foolish business," said the 
Rev. ^Ir. Worden, as soon as we were fairly on our way, " to 
comply with a promise made your excellent mother, not to let 
you stray into any questionable company, without keeping a 
• fatherly eye over you. Now, I regard a fortune-teller's, as a 
doubtful sort of society ; therefore, I feel it to be a duty, to 
make one of this party." 



SATANSTOE, 295 

I do not know wlictlier the Rev. Mr. Worden succeeded in 
deceiving himself; but I very well know, lie did not succeed in 
deceiving me. The fact was, lie loved a frolic ; and nothing 
made him happier than to have an opportunity of joining in 
just such an adventure as that we were on. Judging from the 
position of the house, and the appearance of things in and 
around it, the business of Madam Doortje was not of the most 
lucrative sort. Dirt and poverty were two things not easily 
encountered in Albany ; and I do not say that we found very 
positive evidence of either, here ; but there was less neatness 
than was usual in that ultra-tidy community ; and as for any 
great display of abundance, it was certainly not to be met with. 

We were admitted by a young woman, who gave us to un- 
derstand that Mother Doortje had a couple of customers already ; 
but she invited us to sit down in an outer room, promising that 
our turn should be the next. We did so, accordingly, listening 
through a door that was a little ajar, with no small degree of 
curiosity, to what was passing Avithin. I accidentally took a 
seat in a j^lace that enabled me to see the legs of one of the 
fortune-teller's customers ; and I thought immediately, that the 
stiiped stockings were familiar to me, when the nasal and 
very peculiar intonation of Jason, put the matter out of all 
doubt. He spoke in an earnest manner, which rendered him a 
little incautious; while the woman's tones were low and mum- 
bled. Notwithstanding, we all overheard the following dis- 
course : — 

" Well, now, Mother Dorrichay," said Jason, in a very con- 
fiding sort of way, "I've paid you well for this here business, 
and I want to know if there is any chance for a poor man in 
this colony, who doesn't want for friends, or for that matter, 
merit ?" 

" That's yourself,^'' mumbled the female voice, in the way 
one announces a discovery ; " yes, I see by the cards, that your 
question applies to yourself. You are a young man, that wanta 
not for friends ; and you have merit ! You have friends that 
you deserve; the cards tells me thatV 



296 SATANSTOE. 

"Well, I'll not deny the truth of what you assert; and I 
must say, Dirck, it is a little strange, this woman, who never 
saw me before, should know me so well — my very natur', as it 
might be. But do you think I shall do well to follow up the 
affair I am now on, or that I had best give it up 2" 

" Give up nothing," answered the oracle, in a very oracular 
manner, shuffling the cards as she spoke ; *' no, give up noth- 
ing, but keep all you can. That is the way to thrive in this 
world." 

"By the Ilokey, Dirck, she gives good advice, and I think 
I shall follow it ! But how about the land, and the mill- 
seat — or, rather, how about the particular things I'm thinking 
about?" 

"You are thinking of purchasing — yes, the cards say purchas- 
ing ; or is it ' disposing — ' " 

" Why, as I've got none to sell, it can't very well be dispos- 
ing, mother." 

" Yes, I'm right — this Jack of clubs settles the matter — you 
arc thinking of buying some land — ah ! there's water running 
down-hill ; and here I see a pond — why, you are thinking of 
buying a mill-seat." 

" By the Hokey ! — Who would have thought this, Dirck !" 

" Not a mill; no, there is no mill built; but a miW-seat. Six, 
king, three and an ace ; yes, I see how it is — and you wish to 
get this mill-seat at much less than its real value. Much less ; 
not less, but much less." 

" Well, this is wonderful ! I'll never gainsay fortin-tellin' 
ag'n !" exclaimed Jason. " Dirck, you are to say nothin' of 
this, or thi7ik nothin' of this — as it's all in confidence, you 
know. Now, jist put in a last word, about the end of life, 
mother, and I'll be satisfied. What you have told me about 
my fortin and earnin'smustbe true, I think, for my whole heart 
is in them ; but I should like to know, after enjoying so much 
wealth and happiness as you've foretold, what sort of an end I 
am to make of it ?" 

*' An excellent end — full of grace, and hojjc, and Christian 



SATANSTOE. 297 

faitb. I see here, something that looks like a clergyman's 
gown — white sleeves — book under the arm — " 

"That can't be me^ mother, as I'm no lover of forms, but 
belong to the platform." 

*' Oh ! I see how it is, now ; you dislike Church of England 
people, and could throw dirt at them. Yes, yes — here ymi 
are — a Presbyterian deacon, and one that can lead in a private 
meeting, on an occasion." 

'* Come, Dirck, I'm satisfied — let us go ; we have kept Mothci 
Doorichaise long enough, and I heard some visitors come in 
just now. Thank you, mother — thank you, with all my heart ; 
I think there must be some truth in this fortin-tellin' after all !" 

Jason now arose, and walked out of the house, without even 
deigning to look at us — and consequently without our being 
recognized. But Dirck lingered a minute, not yet satisfied 
Avith what had been already told him. 

"Do you really think I shall never be married, mother?" he 
asked, in a tone that sufiiciently betrayed the importance he 
attached to the answer. "I wish to know that particularly 
before I go away !" 

"Young man," answered the fortune-teller in an oracular 
manner; " what has been said, has been said ! I cannot 7nake 
fortunes, but only reveal them. You have heard that Dutch 
blood is in your veins; but you live in an English colony. 
Your king is her king ; Avhile she is your queen — and you are 
not her master. If you can find a woman of English blood that 
has a Dutch heart, and has no English suitors, go forward, and 
you will succeed ; but if you do not, remain as you are until 
time shall end. These are my words, and these are my thoughts; 
I can say no more." 

I heaid Dirck sigh — poor fellow ! he was thinking of Anneke 
— and he passed through the outer room without once raising 
his eyes from the floor. He left Mother Doortje, as much de- 
pressed in spirits as Jason had left her elated ; the one looking 
forward to the future with a selfish and niggardly hope, whUe 
the other regarded it with a feeling as forlorn as the dcstruc- 



298 SATANSTOE. 

tion of all liis youthful fancies could render any view of Lis 
after-life. The reader may feel disposed to smile at the idea of 
Dirck Van Valkenburgh's possessing youthful fancies — regard- 
ing the young man in the quiet, unassuming manner in which 
he has hitherto be enportrayed by me ; but it would be doing 
great injustice to Ms heart and feelings, to figure him to the 
mind as a being without deep sensibilities. I have always 
supposed that this interview with Mother Doortje had a lasting 
intluence on the fortunes of poor Dirck ; nor am I at all certain 
its efTects did not long linger in the temperament of some others 
that might be named. 

As our turns had now come, we Averc summoned to the 
presence of this female soothsayer. It is unnecessary to de- 
scribe the apartment in which we found Mother Doortje. It 
had nothing unusual in it, with the exception of a raven, that 
was hopping about the floor, and which appeared to be on the 
most familiar terms with his mistress. Doortje herself was a 
woman of quite sixty, wrinkled, lean, and hag-like ; and I 
thought some care had been taken in her dress to increase the 
effect of this, certainly her natural appearance. Her cap was 
entirely of black muslin ; though her dress itself was gray. The 
eye of this woman was of the color of her gown ; and it was 
penetrating, restless, and deep-seated. Altogether, she looked 
the character well. 

On our entrance, after saluting the fortune-teller, each of us 
laid a French crown on the table at which she was seated. This 
coin had become quite current among us, suice the French 
troops had penetrated in our colony ; and it was even said they 
purchased supplies with it from certain of our own people. As 
we had paid the highest price ever given for these glimpses into 
futurity, we thought ourselves entitled to have the pages of the 
sealed book freely opened to us. 

"Do you wish to see me together; or shall I communicate 
with one at a time?" demanded Doortje, in her husky, sepul- 
chral voice ; Avhich it struck me, obtained its peculiar tones 
partly from nature and partly from art. 



SATANSTOE. 299 

It was settled tli.at sTie should commence with Mr. Worden ; 
but that all might remain in the room the whole time. While 
we were talking over this point, Doortje's eyes were by no 
means fixed ; but I remarked that they wandered from pei'son 
to person like those of one who was gathering information. 
Many persons do not believe at all in the art of the fortune- 
teller ; but insist that there is nothing more in it than trick and 
management, pretending that this very woman kept the blacks 
of the town in pay to bring her information ; and that she never 
told any thing of the past which was true, that had not been 
previously communicated to herself I shall not pretend to 
aflSrm that the art goes as far as many imagine ; but it strikes 
me that it is very presuming to deny that there is some truth 
in these matters. I do not wish to appear credulous ; though 
?,t the same time I hold it to be wrong to deny our testimony 
to facts that we are convinced are true.* 

Doortje commenced by shuffling an exceedingly dirty pack 
of cards ; which had probably been used five hundred times on 
similar duty. She next caused Mr. Worden to cut these cards ; 
when a close and musing examination succeeded. All this 
time not a syllable was said ; though we were startled by a low 
whistle from the woman which brought the raven upon her 
shoulder. 

"Well, mother," cried Mr. Worden, with a little impatience 
at what he fancied mummery, "lam dying to hear what /tas 
happened, that I may put the more faith in what is to happen. 
Tell me something of the crop of wheat I put into the ground 
last autumn ; how many bushels I sowed, and on how many 
acres ; whether on new land or on old ?" 

♦ It is-qaite evident that Mr. Cornelius Littlepage was, to a degree at least, a believ- 
er in the fortune-teller's art. Quito within my recollection, the Albanians had a 
celebrated dealer in tho black art, who was regularly consulted on the subject of all 
lost spoons and iho pilfering of servants, by the good housewives of the town, as re- 
cently as my school-boy days. The Dutch, like the Germans, appear to have been 
prone to this species of superstition; from which even the English of education were 
far from being free a century since. Mademoiselle Normand existed in the present 
century, even in the skeptical capital of France. But the somnambulist is taking tho 
place of tho ancient soothsayer in our times, — Editok. 



300 SATAN STOE. 

*' Ay, ay, you Lave sowed ! — and you have sowed :" answer- 
ed the woman on a liigli key for her; "but your seed fell 
among tares, and on the flinty ground ; and you'll never reap 
a soul among 'em all ! Broadcast may you sow — but narrow 
will be your harvest." 

The Kev. Mr. Worden gave a loud hem — placed his arms 
atimbo — and seemed determined to brazen it out ; though I 
could easily perceive that he felt excessively awkward. 

"How is it, with my cattle? and shall I send much mutton 
to market this season ?" 

"A wolf in sheep's clothing!" muttered Doortje. "No — 
no — you like hot suppers, and ducks, and lectures to cooks 
more than gathering in the harvest of the Lord !" 

" Come, this is folly, woman !" exclaimed the parson, angrily. 
" Give me some common sense for my good French crown. 
What do you see in that knave of diamonds that you study its 
face so closely?" 

"A loping Dominie! — a loping Dominie!" screamed the 
hag several times, rather than exclaiming aloud. "See! — he 
runs for life ; but Beelzebub will overtake him !" 

There was a sudden and dead pause ; for the Rev. Mr. "Wor- 
den had caught up his hat and darted from the room ; quitting 
the house as if already busily engaged in the race alluded to. 
Guert shook his head, and looked serious ; but perceiving that 
the woman was already tranquil, and was actually shuflling the 
cards anew, in his behalf, he advanced to learn his fate. I saw 
the eyes of Doortje fastened keenly on him, as he took his 
stand near the table, and the corners of her mouth curled in a 
significant smile. What that meant exactly I have never been 
able to ascertain. 

" I suppose you Avish to know something of the past, like all 
the rest of them," mumbled the woman, "so that you may 
have faith in what you hear about the future ?" 

"Why, mother," answered Guert, passing his hand through 
his own fine head of natural curls, and speaking a little hastily, 
" I do not know that it is any great matter about the past. 



SATANSTOE. 301 

Wliat is douc is done, and there is an end of it. A young 
man may not wisli to hear of such things at the moment, per- 
haps, when he is earnestly bent on doing better We are all 
young once in our lives, and we can grow old only after having 
been so." 

" Yes — yes — I see how it is !" muttered Doortje. " So — 
so — turkeys — turkeys; ducks — ducks — quaack — quaack — 
quaack — gobble, gobble, gobble." Here the old hag set up 
such an imitation of ducks, geese, turkeys, game-cocks, and 
other birds, that one who was in an outer room might well have 
imagined he heard the cries of a regular poultry-yard. I was 
startled myself, for the imitation was very admirable — but 
Guert was obliged to wipe the perspiration from his face. 

"That will do— that will do, mother!" the young man ex- 
claimed. " I see you know all about it; and there is no use ir: 
attempting disguises with you. Now, tell me, if I am ever to 
be a married man, or not. My errand here is to learn that 
fact; and I may as well own it at once." 

"The world has many women in it — and fair faces are 
plenty in Albany," once more mumbled the woman, examin- 
ing her cards with great attention. "A youth like you might 
marry twice even." 

" No, that is impossible ; if I do not marry a particular lady, 
I shall never marry at all." 

" Yes — yes — I see how it is ! — You are in love, young man." 

" D'ye hear that. Corny ! Isn't it wonderful how these crea- 
tures can tell ? I admit the truth of what you say ; but de- 
scribe to me the lady that I love." 

Guert had forgotten altogether that the use of the word /ut/y, 
completely betrayed the fact of his disguise ; since no man 
truly of his dress and air, would think of applying such a word 
to his sweetheart.* I could not prevent these little betrayals 
of himself, however ; for by this time my companion was too 
much excited to hear reason. 

"The lady that you love," answered the fortune-teller, dclib- 

* This inisht have been truo in 1753, but is not true for 1845. — Editok. 



302 SATANSTOE. 

erately, and with the manner of one that proceeded with great 
confidence, " is very handsome, in the first place." 

*' True as the sun in the heavens, mother !" 

•'Then she is virtuous and amiable, and wise, and witty, and 
good." 

" The gospel is not more certain ! Corny, this surpasses* 
bcUef!" 

" Then, she is young. Yes, she is young and fair, and good ; 
throe things that make her much sought after." 

" Why is she so long reflecting on my ofiers, mother ; tell 
me that, I beg of you ; or will she ever consent to have me ?" 

*' I see — I see — it is all here on the cards. The lady cannot 
make up her mind." 

" Listen to that now. Corny ; and do not tell me there is 
nothing in this art. Why does she not make up her mind ? 
For Ileaven's sake let me know tlmt ? A man may tire of 
offering to marry an angel, and getting no answer. I wish to 
know the reason of her doubts." 

" A woman's mind is not easily read. Some are in haste, 
while some are not. I am of opinion you wish to get an answer 
before the lady is ready to give it. Men must learn to wait." 

" She really seems to know .all about it, Corny ! Much as I 
have heard of this woman, she exceeds it all ! Good mother, 
can you tell me how I can gain the consent of the woman I 
love?" 

" That is only to be had by asking. Ask once, ask twice, 
ask thrice." 

"By St. Nicholas! I have asked already twenty times ! If 
asking would do it, she would have been my wife a month 
since. What do you think. Corny — no, I'll not do it — it is not 
manly to get the secrets of a woman's heart by means like 
these — I'll not ask her!" 

"The crown is paid and the truth must be said. The lady 
you love, loves you, and she does not love you ; she will have 
you, and she won't have you ; she thinks yes, and she says ?io." 

Guert now trembled all over, like an aspen-leaf. 



SAT A NS TOE. 303 

"I do not believe there is any harm, Corny, in asking wheth- 
er I gained or lost by the aliair of the river ? I lo'dl ask her 
that much, of a certainty. Tell me, mother, am I better or 
worse, for a certain thing that happened about a month ag(j 
— about the time that the ice went, and that we had a great 
freshet?" 

"Guert Ten Eyck, why do you ivy me thus?" demanded the 
fortune-teller, solemnly. " I knew your father, and I knew 
your mother ; I knew your ancestors in Holland, and their 
children in America. Generations on generations have I 
known your people, and you are the first that I have seen so 
ill-clad ! Do you suppose, boy, that old Doortje's eyes are 
getting dim, and that she cannot tell her own nation ? I saw 
you on the river — ha ! ha ! 'twas a pleasant sight — Jack and 
Moses, too ; how they snorted, and how they galloped ! Crack — 
crack — that's the ice — there comes the water ! See, that bridge 
may hit you on the head 1 Do you take care of this bird, and 
do 7J0U take care of that — and all will come round with the 
seasons. Answer me one thing, Guert Ten Eyck, and answer 
me truly. Know" you ever a young man who goes quickly into 
the bush?" 

"I do, mother; this young man, my friend, intends to go 
ill a few days, or as soon as the weather is settled." 

"Good ! go you with him — absence makes a young woman 
know her OAvn mind, Avhen asking will gain nothing. Go you 
with him, I say ; and if you hear muskets fired, go near them ; 
fear will sometimes make a young woman speak. You have 
your answer, and I will tell no more. Come hither, young 
owner of many half-joes, and touch that card." 

" I did as ordered ; when the woman began to mumble to 
herself, and to run over the pack as rapidly as she could. 
Kings, aces and knaves were examined, one after another, imtil 
she had got the queen of hearts in her hand, which she held 
up to me in triumph. 

" That is your lady. She is a queen of too many hearts ! 
The Hudson did that for you that it has done for many a poor 



304 



SATANSTOE. 



man before you. Yes, ycs^; the river did you good ; but water 
■will drown, as well as make tears. Do you beware of knights 
barrownigbts !"* 

Here Mother Doortje came to a dead stand in her communi- 
cations, and not another syllable of any sort could cither of us 
get from her, though between us, as many as twenty questions 
were asked. Signs were made for us to depart ; and when the 
woman found our reluctance, she laid a crown for each of us 
on the table with a dignified air, and went into a corner, seated 
herself, and began to rock her body, like one impatient of our 
presence. After so unequivocal a sign that she considered 
her work as done, we could not well do less than return, leaving 
the money behind us as a matter of course. 



* In the colony of New York, there lived but one titled ninn for a considerable pe- 
riod. It was the celebrated Sir William Johnson, IJart., of Johnson Hall, Johnstown, 
Albany, now Fulton county. The son of Sir William Johnson was knighted durinj; 
his father's lifetime, and was Sir John while Sir William was living. At the dcatli 
of his father he was Sir John Johnson, Kt, & Bart.; and it was usual for the cominou 
o'ass of people to style him a knight or barrow^iij/A^. — Editor. 




8 \ T A S S T O E . £06 



CHAPTER XIX. 



' Virtue, how frail it is I 
Friendship, too rare I 
Love, how it sells poor bliss 
For proud despair I 
But we, though soon they fall. 
Survive their joy, and all 
Which ours we call." 

SlIKLLF.T. 



GuEKT Ten Eyck was profoundly impressed with what lie 
had heard, in his visit to the fortune-teller. It affected his 
spirits, and, as will be seen, it influenced all his subsequent 
conduct. As for myself, X will not say that I totally disregarded 
what had passed ; though the effect was greatly less on me 
than it was on my friend. The Rev. Mr. Worden, however, 
treated the matter with great disdain. He declared that he had 
never before been so insulted in his Ufe. The old hag, no doubt, 
had seen us all before, and recognized him. Profiting by a 
knowledge of this sort — that was very easily obtained in a place 
of the size of Albany — she had taken the occasion to make the 
most of the low gossip that had been circulated at his expense. 
" Loping Dominie indeed," he added ; ** as if any man would 
not run to save his life ! You saw how it was with the river, 
Corny, when it once began to break up, and know that my escape 
was marvellous. I deserve as much credit for that retreat, boy, as 
Xenophon did for his retreat with ten thousand. It is true I 
had not thirty-four thousand six hundred and fifty stadia to 
retreat over ; but acts are to be estimated more by quality than 
by quantity. The best things are always of an impromptu 
character ; and generally they arc on a small scale. Then, as 



oOG s A T A s s r v) 5 . 

for all you tell nio cVoout Gucrt; ■\vliy, the liussy knew liim — • 
must Lave known him, in a town like Alban)-, where the fellow 
has a character that identifies him with all sorts of fun auJ 
roguery. Jack and Moses too ! Do you think the inspiration 
of even an evil spirit, or of forty thousand devils would lead a 
fortune-teller to name any horse Moses ? Jack might do, per- 
haps ; hut Moses would never enter the head of even an imp ! 
Remember, lad, Moses was the great lawgiver of the Jews ; 
and such a creature would be as apt to suppose a horse was 
named Confucius, as to suppose he was named Moses 1" 

" I suppose the inspiration, as you call it, sir, would lead a 
clever fortune-teller to give things as they are ; and to call the 
horses by their real names, let them be what they might." 

"Ay, such inspiration as this miserable old, wrinkled, impu- 
dent she-devil enjoys ! Don't tell me, Corny ; there is no 
such thing as fortune-telling ; at least, nothing that can be 
depended on in all cases — and this is one of downright imposi- 
tion. * Loping Dominie,' forsooth !" 

Such were the Rev. Mr. Worden's sentiments on the subject 
of Mother Doortje's revelations. lie exacted a pledge from us 
all, to say nothing about the matter ; nor were we much dis- 
posed to be communicative on the subject. As for Guert, 
Dirck, Jason, and myself, we did not hesitate to converse on 
the circumstances of our visits among ourselves, however ; and 
each and all of us viewed the matter somewhat difibrently 
from our Mentor. I ascertained that Jason had been highly 
gratified with what had been predicted on his own behalf; for 
what was wealth in his eyes had been foretold as his future lot ; 
and a man rarely quarrels with good fortune, whether in pro- 
spective or in possession. Dirck, though barely twenty, began 
to talk of living a single life from this time ; and no laughter of 
mine could induce the poor lad to change his views, or to en- 
tertain livelier hopes. Guert was deeply impressed, as has been 
said ; and feeling no restraint in the matter of his own case, he 
took occasion to speak of his visit to the woman, one morning 
that Herman Mordaunt, the two ladies, Bulstrode, and myself, 



SATAN STOE 307 

wore sitting togotlicr, chatting, in tlie freedom of what liad now 
become a very constant intercourse. 

" Are sucli tilings as fortune-tellers known in England, Mr. 
Bulstrode ?" Guert abruptly commenced, fastening his eyes on 
Mary Wallace, as be asked the question ; for on her were his 
thoughts running at the time. 

" All sorts of silly things are to be found in Old England, 
Mr. Ten Eyck, as well as some that are wise. I believe Lon- 
don has one or two soothsayers ; and I think I have heard 
elderly people say that the fashion of consulting tbem has some- 
what increased since the court has been so German." 

" Yes," Guert innocently replied ; " I find it easy to believe 
that ; for it is a common saying among our people, that the 
German and Low Dutch fortune-tellers are the best known. 
They have had, or pretend to have had, witches in New Eng- 
land ; but no one hereabouts puts any faith in the pretence. 
It is like all the bragging of these boastful Yankees!" 

I observed that Mary Wallace's color deepened ; and that in 
biting off a thread, she profited by the occasion to avert her 
face in such a manner, that Bulstrode, in particular, could not 
sec it. 

" The meaning of all this," put in Major Bulstrode, "is, that 
our friend Guert has been to pay a visit to Mother Doortje ; a 
woman of some note who lives on the hill, and who has a repu- 
tation in that way among these good Albanians ! Several of 
our mess have been to see the old woman." 

"It is, Mr. Bulstrode," Guert answered, in his manly way, 
and with a gravity which proved how much he was in earnest. 
I have been to see Mother Doortje, for the first time in my life ; 
and Corny Littlepage, here was my companion. Long as I 
have known the woman by reputation, I have never had an}; 
curiosity to pay her a visit until this spring. We have been, 
however ; and I must say, I have been greatly surprised at the 
extent of the knowledge of this very extraordinary person." 

"Did she tell you to look into the sweetmeat-pot for the lost 
spoon, Mr. Ten Eyck," Anneke inquired, with an archness of 



308 SATANSTOE. 

eye and voice that sent the blood to my own face in confusion. 
" They say that fortune-tellers send all prudent yet careless 
housewives, to the sweetmeat-pots, to look for the lost spoons ! 
Many have been found, I hear, by this wonderful prescience." 

" Well, Miss Anneke, I see you have no faith," answered 
Guert, fidgeting; " and people who have no faith never believe. 
Notwithstanding, / put so much confidence in what Doortje 
has told me, that I intend to follow her advice, let matters turn 
out as they may." 

Here Mary Wallace raised her thoughtful, full, blue c^cs to 
the face of the young man ; and they expressed an intense in- 
terest, rather than any light curiosity, that even her woman's 
instinct and woman's sensitiveness could not so far prevail, as 
to enable her to conceal. Still Mary Wallace did not speak, 
leaving the others present to maintain the discourse. 

"Of course, you mean to tell us all about it. Ten Eyck," 
cried the major; "there is nothing more likely to succeed 
with an audience, than a good history of witchcraft, or some- 
thihg so very marvellous as to do violence to common sense, 
before we give it our faith." 

" Excuse me, Mr. Bulstrode ; these are things I cannot well 
mention; though Corny Littlepage will testify that they are 
very wonderful. At any rate, I shall go into the bush this 
spring ; and Littlepage and FoUock being excellent companions, 
I propose to join their company. It will be late before the 
army will be ready to move ; and by that time, all three of ua 
propose to join you before Ticonderoga ; if indeed you succeed 
in getting so far." 

" Say, rather, in front of Montreal ; for I trust this new com- 
mander-in-chief will find something more for us to do than the 
last one did. Shall I have a sentinel placed at Doortje's door, 
m your absence, Guert ?" 

The smile this question produced was general ; Guert him- 
self joining in it ; for his good-nature was of proof. When I 
say the smile was general, however, I ought to except Marv 
Wallace, who smiled little that morning. 



SATAN STOK. 309 

"Wo shiill be neighbors, then," Herman Mordaunt quietly 
observed ; that is to say, if you mean by accompanying Corny 
and Dirck to the bush, you intend to go with them to the pat- 
ent lately obtained by Messrs. Littlepage and Van Valkenburgh. 
I have an estate in that quarter, which is now ten years old ; 
and these ladies have consented to accompany me thither, as 
soon as the weather is a little more settled, and I can be assured 
that our army will be of sufficient force to protect us from the 
French and Indians." 

It is unnecessary for me to say with what delight Guert and 
I heard this announcement ! On Bulstrode, however, it pro- 
duced an exactly contrary effect. He did not appear to me to 
be surprised at a declaration that was so new to us ; but several 
expressions fell from him that showed he had no idea the two 
estates, that of Herman Mordaunt and that which belonged to us, 
lay so near together. It was by means of his questions, indeed, 
that I learned the real facts of the case. It appeared that Her- 
man Mordaunt' s business in Albany was to make some provis- 
ions in behalf of this property, on which he had caused mills to 
be erected, and some of the other improvements of a new settle- 
ment to be made, two or three years before ; and which, by 
the progress and events of the war, was getting to be in closer 
proximity to the Cnemy than was desirable. Even where the 
French lay, at Ticonderoga, his mills in particular, might be 
thought in some danger, though forty or more miles distant ; 
for parties of savages, led on by white men, frequently marched 
that distance through the forests, in order to break up a settle- 
ment and to commit depredations. But the enemy had crossed 
Lake George the previous summer, and had actually taken 
Fort William Henry, at its southern extremity, by siege. It is 
true, this was the extent of their inroad ; and it was now known 
that they had abandoned this bold conquest, and had fallen 
back upon Ty and Crown Point, two of the strongest military 
positions in the British colonies. Still, Ravensnest, as Her- 
man Mordaunt's property was called, was far from being beyond 
the limits of sorties ; and the residence at Albany, was solely 



310 SATANSTOE. 

to watcli tlio progress of events in that quarter, and to be near 
the scene. If he had any public employment, it remained a 
profound mystery. A new source of embarrassment had arisen, 
however ; and this it was that decided the proprietor to visit 
the lands in person. The fifteen or twenty families he had 
succeeded in establishing on the estate, at much cost and 
trouble, had tahen the alarm, at the prospect of a campaign in 
their vicinity ; and had announced an intention of abandoning 
their huts and clearings, as a course most expedient for the 
times. Two or three had already gone off toward the Hamp- 
shire grants, whence they had originally come ; profiting by 
the last of the snow ; and it was feared that others might imi- 
tate their caution. 

Herman Mordaunt saw no necessity for this abandonment of 
advantages over the wilderness, that had been obtained at so 
much cost and trouble. The labor of a removal and a return, 
was sufficient of itself to give a new direction to the move- 
ments of his settlers ; and as their first entrance into the coun-- 
try had been eff'ected through his agency, and aided by his 
means, he naturally wished to keep the people he had got to 
his estate with so much difliculty, and at so much cost, at their 
several positions, as long, at least, as he considered prudent. 
In these circumstances, therefore, he had determined to visit 
Ravensnest in person, and to pass a part, if not most of the 
summer among his people. This would give them confidence, 
and would enable him to infuse new life into their operations.* 
It would seem that Anneke and Mary Wallace had refused to 
let Mr. Mordaunt go alone ; and believing, himself, there was 
no danger in the course he was about to take, the father and 
guardian, for Mary Wallace was Herman Mordaunt's ward, had 
yielded to the importunities of the two girls ; and it had been 
formally decided that they were all to proceed together, as soon 
as the season should get to be a little more advanced. Intelli- 
gence of this intention had been sent to the settlers ; and its 
effect was to induce them to remain at their posts, by pacifying 
their fears. 



SATANSTOE. oil 

I migLt as well add here what I learned subsequently, in the 
due course of events. Bulstrode had been made acquainted 
■with Ilerman Mordaunt's plans, they being sworn friends, and 
the latter warmly in the interest of the former's suit ; and he 
had known hoAV to profit by the information. It was now time 
to put the troops in motion, and several parties had already 
marched toward the north, taking post at different points that 
it was thought desirable to occupy, previously to the commence- 
ment of the campaign. Among other corps under orders of 
this nature, was that commanded by Bulstrode ; and he had 
sufficient interest at head-quarters, to get it sent to the point 
nearest Ravensnest, Avhere it gave him the double advantage of 
having it in his power to visit the ladies on occasion, while at 
the same time he must appear to them somewhat in the char- 
acter of a protector. The object of Dirck and myself in visit- 
ing the north was no secret ; and it was generally understood 
that we were to go to Mooseridge ; but we did not know our- 
selves that Herman Mordaunt had an estate so near us. This 
intelligence, as has been said, I now ascertained was as nev,' to 
Bulstrode as it w'as to myself. 

The knowledge of many little things I have just mentioned, 
was obtained by me only at intervals, and by means of obser- 
vation and discourse. Nevertheless, the main points were de- 
termined on the morning on which Guert referred to his visit 
to the fortune-teller, and in the manner named. The conversa- 
tion lasted an hour ; nor did it cease until all present got a 
general idea of the course intended to be pursued by the dif- 
ferent parties present, during the succeeding summer. 

It happened that morning, that Bulstrode, Dirck, and Guert 
withdrew together, the two last to look at a horse the former 
had just purchased, leaving me alone with the young ladies. 
No sooner was the door closed on the retiring members of our 
party, than I saw a smile struggling about the handsome mouth 
of Anncke ; Mary Wallace continuing the whole time thought- 
ful, if not sad. 

" And you were of the party at the fortune-teller's, too, it 



812 SATANSTOE. 

seems, Mr. Littlepagc," Annekc remarked, after appearing to 
be debating with herself on the propriety of proceeding any 
ftirthcr in the subject. " I knew there was such a person in 
Albany, and that thrifty housekeepers did sometimes consult 
her; but I was ignorant that men, and educated men paid her 
that honor." 

" I believe there is no exception in the way of sex or learn- 
ing, to her influence or her authority. They tell me that most 
of the younger ofl[icers of the army visit her, while they remain 
here." 

" I would much like to know if Mr. Bulstrode has been of 
the number ! lie is young enough in years, though so high in 
rank. A major may have as much curiosity as an ensign ; or, 
as it may appear, dear Mary, of a woman who has lost her 
grandmother's favorite dessert-spoon." 

Mary Wallace gave a gentle sigh, and she even raised her 
eyes from her work ; still she made no answer. 

" You are severe on us, Anneke ;" for since the affair on the 
river, the whole family treated me with the familiarity of a son 
or a brother ; ** I fancy we have done no more than Mr. Mor- 
daimt has done in his day." 

" This may be very true. Corny, and not make the consul- 
tation the wisest thing in nature. I hope, however, you do not 
keep your fortune a secret, but let your friends share in your 
knowledge !" 

" To me the woman was far from being communicative, 
though she treated Guert Ten Eyck better. Certainly, she told 
him many extraordinary things of the past, even ; unless, indeed, 
she knew who he was." 

" Is it probable, Mr. Littlepage," said Mary Wallace, *' that 
any person in Albany should not know Guert Ten Eyck, and 
a good deal of his past history ? Poor Guert makes himself 
known wherever he is !" 

"And often much to his advantage," I added — a remark 
that cost me nothing ; but which caused Mary Wallace's face 
to brighten, and even brought a faint smile to her lips. " All 



SATANSTOE. 313 

that is true ; yet there was something wild and unnatural in 
the woman's manner, as she told these things !" 

" All of which you seem determined to keep to yourself?" 
obseiTed Anneke, as one asks a question. 

" It would hardly do to betray a friend's secrets. Let Guert 
answer for himself; he is as frank as broad day, and will not 
hesitate about letting you know all." ^ 

" I wish Corny Littlepage were only as frank as twilight !" 

" I have nothing to conceal — and least of all from you, 
Anneke. The fortune-teller told me that the queen of my 
heart was the queen of too many hearts ; that the river liad done 
me no harm ; and that I must particularly beware of what she 
called knights-barrow-?^^^/i/s." 

I watched Anneke closely, as I repeated this warning of 
Mother Doortje ; but could not read the expression of her sweet 
and thoughtful countenance. She neither smiled nor frowned ; 
but she certainly blushed. Of course, she did not look at me 
— for that would have been to challenge observation. Mary 
Wallace, however, did smile, and she did look at me. 

" You believe all the wizzard told you. Corny ?" said Anneke, 
after a short pause. 

"I believed that the queen of my heart was the queen of 
many hearts; that the river had done me no harm — though 
I could not say, or see, that it had done me much good ; and 
that I had much to fear from knights-barrow?i2^A<s. I believed 
all this, however, before I ever saAv the fortune-teller." 

The next remark that was made came from Anneke, and it 
referred to the weather. The season was opening finely, and 
fast ; and it could not be long before the great movements of 
the year must commence. Several regiments had arrived in 
the colonies, and various officers of note and rank had accom- 
panied them. Among others who had thus crossed the Atlan- 
tic for the first time, was my lord Ilowe, a young soldier of 
whom fame spoke favorably, and from whom much was expect- 
ed in the course of the anticipated service of the year. While 
we were talking over these things, Jtlerman Mordaunt re-entered 
14 



314 SATANSTOE. 

the room after a sbort absence, and lie took me with him to 
examine his preparations for transporting the ladies to Ravcna- 
nest. As we went along, the discourse was maintained, and I 
learned many things from my older and intelligent companion 
that were new to me. 

" New lords, new laws, they say, Corny," continued Herman 
Mordaunt ; " and this Mr. Pitt, the great commoner, as some 
persons call him, is bent on making the British empire feel the 
truth of the axiom. Every thing is alive in the colonies, and 
the sluggish period of Lord Loudon's command is passed. 
General Abercrombic, an officer from whom much is expected, 
is now at the head of the king's troops, and there is every 
prospect of an active and most important campaign. The dis- 
graces of the few last years musthc wiped out, and the English 
name be made once more to be dreaded on this continent. The 
Lord Howe of whom Anneke spoke, is said to be a young man 
of merit, and to possess the blood of our Hanoverian mon- 
archs ; his mother being a half-sister, in the natural way, of his 
present majesty." 

Herman Mordaunt then spoke more fully of his own plans 
for the summer — expressed his happiness at knowing that Dirck 
and myself were to be what he called his neighbors — though, 
on a more exact computation, it was ascertained that the near- 
est boundaries of the two patents, that of Ravensnest, and that 
of Mooseridge, lay quite fourteen miles apart, with a dense and 
virgin forest between them. Nevertheless, this would be mak- 
ing us neighbors in a certain sense ; as gentlemen always call 
men of their own class neighbors, when they live within visit- 
ing distance, or near enough to be seen once or twice in a year. 
And such men are neighbors in the sense that is most essential 
to the term — they know each other better; undei-stand each 
other better; sympathize more freely ; have more of the inter' 
course that makes us judges of motives, principles, and charac- 
ter, twenty-fold, than he who lives at the gate and merely sees 
the owner of the grounds pass in and out, on his daily avoca- 
tions. There is, and can be no greater absurdity, than to im- 



SATANSTOE. 315 

agiuc that tlac sliccr ncigliborliood, or proximity of position, 
makes men acquainted. That was one of Jason Newcome's 
Connecticut notions. Ilaviug been educated in a state of society 
in which all associated on a certain footing of intimacy, and in 
which, half the difBciJ.ties that occurred were "told to the 
church," he was forever fancying he knew all the gentry of 
"Westchester, because he had lived a year or two in the coun- 
ty ; when, in fact, he had never spoken to one in a dozen of 
them. I never could drive this notion out of his head, how- 
ever ; for looking often at a man, or occasionally exchanging a 
bow with him on the highway, he would insist was knowing 
him, or what he called, being "well acquainted;" a very 
favorite expression of the Danbury man's ; though their sym- 
pathies, habits, opinions, and feelings, created so vast a void 
between the parties, they hardly understood each other's terms 
and ordinary language, when they did begin to converse, as 
sometimes happened. Notwithstanding all this, Jason insisted 
to the last that he Jcneio every gentleman in the county, whom 
he had been accustomed to hear alluded to in discourse, and 
when he had seen them once or twice, though it were only at 
church. But Jason had a very flattering notion generally of 
his own acquisitions on all subjects. 

Herman Mordaunt had made careful provision for the con- 
templated journey ; having caused a covered vehicle to be con- 
structed, that could transport not only himself and the ladies, 
but many articles of furniture that would be required during 
their residence in the forest. Another conveyance, strong, 
spacious, and covered, was also prepared for the blacks, and 
another portion of the effects. He pointed out all these arrange- 
ments to me with great satisfaction, dwelling on the affection 
and spirit of the girls with a pleasure he did not affect to con- 
ceal. For my own part, I have always been of opinion, that 
Anneke was solely influenced by pure, natural regard, in form- 
ing her indiscreet resolution ; while her father was governed 
by the secret expectation that the movement would leave open 
the means of receiving visits and communications from Bulstrode, 



SIG SATANSTOE. 

during most of the summer. I commended the arrangements, 
made one or two suggestions of my own in behalf of Anneke 
and Mary, and we returned to our several homes. 

A day or two after this visit to the workshops, and the con- 
versation related, the th took up its line of march for the 

north. The troops defiled through the narrow streets in the 
neighborhood of the barracks, half an hour after the appearance 
of the sun, preceded and followed by a long train of baggage- 
wagons. They marched without tents, however, it being well 
understood that they were going into a region where the axe 
could at any time cover thousands of men, in about the time 
that a camp could be laid out, and the canvas spread. Hut- 
ting was the usual mode of placing an army under cover in the 
forest ; and a dozen marches would take the battalion to the 
point where it was intended it should remain, as a support to 
two or three other corps still further in advance, and to keep 
open the communications. 

Bulstrodc, however, did not quit Albany in company with 
his regiment. I had been invited, with Guert and Du"ck, to 
breakfast at Ilci-man Mordaunt's that morning; and, as we 
approached the door, I saw the major's groom walking his 
own and his master's horse, in the street, near by. This was a 
sign we were to have the pleasure of Bulstrodc' s company at 
breakfast. Accordingly, on entering the room, we found him 
present, in the uniform of an officer of his rank, about to com- 
mence a march in the forests of America. I thought him 
melancholy, as if sad at parting ; but my most jealous obser- 
vation could detect no sign of similar feeling on the part of 
Anneke. She was not quite as gay as usual, but she was far 
from being sad. 

" I leave you, ladies, with the deepest regret," said Bul- 
strodc, Avhile at table, " for you have made this country more 
than a home to me — you have rendered it dear.^'' 

This was said with feeling ; more than I had ever seen Bul- 
strodc manifest before, and more than I had given him credit 
for poi-scssing. Anneke colored a little ; but there was no 



SATANSTOE. 31 V 

tremor in the beautiful liand, that held a liiglily-wrouglit little 
tea-pot suspended over a cup, at that very moment. 

"We shall soon meet again, Harry," Herman Mordaunt 
remarked, in a tone of strong affection ; " for our party will 
not he a week behind you. Eemember we are to be good neigh- 
bors, as well as neighbors ; and if the mountain wUl not come 
to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain." 

"Which means, Mr. Bulstrode," said Mary Wallace, with 
one of her sweet smiles, and one that was as open and natural 
as childhood itself, " that you are Mahomet, and we are the 
mountain. Ladies can neither travel, with comfort, in a wilder- 
ness, nor visit a camp, with propriety, if they would." 

" They tell me, I shall not be in a camp at all," answered 
the soldier ; " but in good, comfortable log-barracks that have 
been built for us by the battalion we relieve. I am not without 
hopes, they will be such as even ladies will not disdain to use, 
on an emergency. There ought to be no Mahomet, and no 
mountain, between such old and intimate friends." 

The conversation then turned on the plans and expectations 
of the respective parties ; and the usual promises were made of 
being sociable and good neighbors, as had just been suggested. 
Herman Mordaunt evidently wished to consider Bulstrode as 
one of his family ; a feeling that might excuse itself to the world, 
on the score of consanguinity ; but which, it was easy enough 
for me to see, had its origin in a very different cause. When 
Bulstrode rose to take his leave, I wished myself away on ac- 
count of the exhibition of concern it produced ; while the desire 
to watch the effect on Anneke, would have kept me rooted to 
the floor, even had it been proper that I should retire. 

Bulstrode was more affected than I could have thought possi- 
ble. He took one of Herman Mordaunt's hands into his own, 
and pressed it warmly for some little time before he could speak 
at all. 

" God only knows what this summer is to see, and whether 
we are ever to meet again, or not," he then said ; " but, corao 
what may, the past, the happy past, is so much gained from 



CIS SATANSTOE. 

the commonplace. If you never hear of me -again, my dear 
kinsman, my letters to England will give you a better account 
of my gratitude tlian any thing I can say in words. They have 
been ^vTitten as your kindnesses have been bestowed ; and they 
faithfully portray the feelings to which your hospitality and 
friendship have given rise. In a possible event, I have requested 
that every one of them may be sent to America, for your 
special perusal — " 

" Nay, my dear Harry, this is foreboding the very worst," 
interrupted Herman Mordaunt, dashing a tear from his eye, 
" and is making a very short separation a more serious matter 
than one ought — " 

" Nay, sir, a soldier who is about to be posted within strik- 
ing distance of his enemy, can never speak with confidence of 
separations that are to be short. This campaign will be de- 
cisive for me" — glancing toward Anneke — " I must return a 
conqueror, in one sense, or I do not wish to return at all. But 
God bless you, Herman Mordaunt, as your own countrymen 
call you; a thousand years could not efface from my heart the 
remembrance of all your kindness." 

This was handsomely expressed ; and the manner in which it 
was uttered, was as good as the language. Bulstrode hesitated 
a moment — looked at the two girls in doubt — and first ap- 
proached Mary Wallace. 

"Adieu, excellent Mary Wallace," he said, taking her ofiered 
hand and kissing it, with a freedom from emotion that denoted 
it was only friendship and respect which induced the act — " I 
believe you are a severe critic on Catos and Scrubs ; but I for- 
give all your particiilar backbitings, on account of your general 
indulgence and probity. You may meet Avith a thousand mere 
acquaintances, before you find another who shall have the same 
profound respect for your many virtues as myself." 

This was handsomely said, too ; and it caused Mary Wallace 
to remove the handkerchief from her eyes, and to utter her 
adieus cordially, and with some emotion. Strangers say that 
our women want feeling — passion ; or, if they have it, that it is 



SATANSTOE. 819 

veiled btliiud a mask of coldness, that takes away from its 
?oveliness and warmtli ; that they are girlish and familiar, where 
they might better be resented ; and distant and unnatural, 
where feeling and nature ought to assert their sway. That they 
have less manner, in all respects, in that of self-control, and 
perhaps of self-respect, in their ordinary intercourse, and in that 
of aciinff, where it may seem necessary so to do, I believe to 
be tmc ; but he who denies an American gid a heart, knows 
nothing about her. She is all heart ; and the apparent cold- 
ness is oftencr the consequence of not daring to trust her feel- 
ings, and her general dislike to every thing artificial, than to any 
want of affections. Two girls, educated, however, as had been 
Anneke and Mary Wallace, could not but acquit themselves 
better, in such a scene, than those who had been less accustomed 
to the usages of polite life, which arc always, more or less, the 
usages of convention^ 

On the present occasion, Mary Wallace was strongly affected ; 
it would not have been possible, for one of her gentle nature 
and warm affections, to be otlierwise, when an agreeable com- 
panion, one she had now known intimately near two years, was 
about to take his leave of her, on an errand that he himself 
cither thought, or affected so well to seem to think, might lead 
to the most melancholy issue. She shook hands with Bulstrode 
wannly ; wished him good fortune, and various other pleasant 
things ; thanked him for his good opinion, and expressed her 
hope, as well as her belief, that they should all meet again before 
the summer was over, and again be happy in eacJi other's 
society. 

Anneke' s turn came next. Her handkerchief was at her 
eyes; and when it Avas removed, the face was pale, and tne 
cheeks were covered with tears. The smile that followed, was 
sweetness itself; and I will own, it caused me a most severo 
pang. To my surprise, Bulstrode said nothing. He took 
Anneke' s hand, pressed it to his heart, kissed it, left a note in 
it, bowed, and moved away. I felt ashamed to watch the coun- 
tenance of Miss Mordaunt, under such circumstances, and turned 



320 SATANSTOE. 

aside, tliat observation miglit not increase the distress and em- 
barrassment slia evidently felt. I saw enough, notwithstanding, 
to render me more uncertain than ever, as to the success of my 
OAvn suit. Anneke's color had come and gone, as Bulstrode 
stood near her, acting his dumb-show of leave-taking ; and, to 
me, she seemed far more affected than Mary Wallace had been. 
Nevertheless, her feelings were always keener and more active 
than those of her friend ; and that which my sensitiveness took 
for the emotion of tenderness, might be nothing more than 
ordinary womanly feeling and friendship. Besides, Bulstrode 
was actually her relative. 

We men all attended Bulstrode to his horse. lie shook us 
cordially by the hand ; and after he had got into the saddle, he 
said: "This summer will be wanner than usual, even in your 
warmy-cold climate. My letters from home give me reason to 
think that there is, at last, a man of talent at the head of 
affairs ; and the British empire is likely to feel the impulse he 
will give it, at its most remote extremities. I shall expect you 

three yomig men to join the th, as volunteers, as soon as 

you hear oS our moving in advance. I wish I had a thousand 
like you ; for that affair of the river tells where a man v/ill be 
found when the time comes. God bless you. Corny !" leaning 
forward in his saddle, to give me another shake of the hand ; 
" we 7nust remain friends, coute qui coicte/^^ 

There was no withstanding this frankness, and so much good 
temper. We shook hands most cordially; Bulstrode raised 
his hat and bowed ; after which he rode away, as I fancied at a 
slow, thoughtful, reluctant pace. Notwithstanding the kind- 
ness of this parting, I had more cause than ever to regret Bul- 
strode had appeared among us ; and the scenes of that morning 
only confirmed me in a resolution previously adopted, not to 
urge Anneke to any decision in my case in a moment when I 
felt there might be so much danger it would be adverse. 



tSATAKSTOE. 321 



CHAPTER XX. 

" Come, let a prop.cr text be reaJ, 
An' touch it aff wi' vigor, 
How graceless Ham Icugli at Ms dad. 
Which made Canaan a nigger." 

Bcr.NS. 

Ten days after the departure of the tli, Herman j\Ior- 

daunt and his family, with our own party, left Albany, on the 
summer's business. In that interval, however, great changes 
had taken place in the military aspect of things. Several regi- 
ments of king's troops ascended the Hudson ; most of the 
sloops on the river, of which there could not have been fewer 
than thirty or forty, having been employed in transporting them 
and their stores. Two or three corps came across the country, 
from the easteni colonies, while several provincial regiments 
appeared ; every thing tending to a concentration at this point, 
the head of navigation on the Hudson. Among other men of 
mark, who accompanied the troops, was Lord Viscount Howe, 
the nobleman of whom Herman Mordaunt had spoken. He 
bore the local rank of brigadier,* and seemed to be the very 
soul of the army. It was not his personal consideration, alone, 
that placed him so high in the estimation of the public and the 
troops, but his professional reputation, and professional ser- 
vices. There were many young men of rank in the army 
present ; and, as for younger sons of peers, there were enough 
to make honorables almost as plenty at Albany as they were at 

* The ordinary American reader nay not know that the rank of brigadier in the 
British army, is not a step in the regular line of promotion, as with ns. In England, 
the regular military gradations are from colonel to major-general, lieutenant-general, 
general, and field-marshal. The rank of brigadier is barely recognized, like that of 
commodoro in the navy, to be used on emergencies; usually as brevet, local rank tc 
enable the government to emi)l(iy clover colonels at need. 



322 SATAN STOE. 

Boston. !Most of tlic colonial families of mark had sons in tlie 
service, too ; those of the middle and southern colonies bearing 
commissions in regular regiments ; -while the provincial troops 
from the eastern were led, as was very usual in that quarter of 
the country, by men of the class of yeomen, in a great degree ; 
the habits of equality that pravailcd in those provinces, making 
few distinctions on the score of birth or fortune. 

Yet it was said, I remember, that obedience was as marked 
among the provincials from Massachusetts and Connecticut, a^ 
among those that came from farther south; the men deferring 
to authority, as the agent of the laws. They were fine troops, 
too ; better than our own colony regiments, I must acknowledge ; 
seeming to belong to a higher class of laborers ; while it must 
be admitted that most of their officers were no very brilliant 
representatives of manners, acquirements, or habits, that would 
be likely to qualify them for command. It must have been that 
the officers and men suited each other ; for it was said all round, 
that they stood well and fought very bravely, whenever they 
Avere particularly well led, as did not always happen to be the 
case. As a body of mere physical men, they were universally 
allowed to be the finest corps in the army, regulars and all 
included. 

I saw Lord Howe two or three times, particularly at the resi- 
dence of Madam Schuyler, the lady I have already had occasion 
to mention, and to whom I had given the letter of introduction 
procured by my mother, the Mordaunts visiting her with great 
assiduity, and frequently asking me with them. As for Lord 
Ilowe himself, he almost lived under the roof of excellent Mad- 
am Schuyler; Avhere indeed all the good company assembled 
at Albany were at times to be seen. 

Our party was a large one ; and it might have passed for a 
small corps of the army itself, moving on in advance ; as was 
the case with corps, or parts of corps, now almost daily. Her- 
man Mordaunt had delayed our departure, indeed, expressly 
Avith a view to render the country safe, by letting it fill with 
detachments from the army; and our progress when we Avcre 



SATANSTOE. 323 

oiicc in motion, was literally from post to post ; encampment 
to encampment. It may be well to enumerate our force, and to 
relate tlie order of our march, that the reader may better com- 
prehend the sort of business we were on. 

Herman Mordaunt toot with him, in addition to the ladies, 
a black cook and a black serving-girl ; a negro man to take 
care of his horses, and another as his house-servant. He had 
three white laborers in addition — men employed about the 
teams, and as axe-men, to clear the woods, bridge the streams, 
and to do other work of that nature, as it might be required. 
On our side there were us three gentlemen, Yaap, my own 
faithful negro, Mr, Ti-averse the surveyor, two chain-bearers, 
and two axe-men. Guert Ten Eyck carried with him also a 
negro man, who was called Pete ; it being contrary to bonos 
mores to style him Peter or Petrus ; the latter being his true 
appellation. This made us ten men strong, of whom eight 
were white and two black. Herman Mordaunt mustered in all 
just the same number, of whom however four were females. 
Thus by uniting our forces we made a party of twenty soul? 
altogether. Of this number all the males, black and white, 
were well armed, each man owning a good rifle, and each of 
the gentlemen a brace of pistols in addition. We carried the 
latter belted to our bodies, with the weapons, which were small 
and fitted to the service, turned behind in such a way as to be 
concealed by our outer garments. The belts were also hid by 
the flaps of our nether garments. By this arrangement, we 
were well armed without seeming to be so ; a precaution that 
is sometimes useful in the woods. 

It is hardly necessary to say that we did not plunge into the 
forest in the attire in which we had been accustomed to appear 
in the streets of New York and. Albany. Clocked hats were 
laid aside altogether ; forest caps, resembling in fonn those we 
had Avorn in the winter, with the exception that the fur had 
been removed, being substituted. The ladies wore light bea- 
vers suited to their sex ; there being little occasion for any shade 
for the face under the dense canopies of the forest. Veils of 



324 SAT AN ST OE. 

green, liowever were added, as the customary American protec- 
tion for the sex. Anneke and Mary travelled in liabits made 
of light Avoman's cloth, and in a mamier to fit their exquisite 
forms like gloves. The skirts Avere short, to enable them to 
walk with case, in the event of being compelled to go afoot. 
A feather or two in each hat had not been forgotten — the oifer- 
ing of the natural propensity of theu" sex to please the eyes of 
men. 

As for us men, buckskin formed the principal material of our 
garments. "We all wore buckskin breeches, and gaiters, and 
moccasins. The latter, however, had the white man's soles ; 
though Guert took a pair or two with him that were of the 
pure Indian manufacture. Each of us had a coatee, made of 
common cloth ; but we all earned hunting-shirts, to be worn as 
soon as we entered the woods. These hunting-shirts, green in 
color, fringed and ornamented garments of the fonn of shirts 
to be worn over all, were exceedingly smart in appearance, and 
Avere admirably suited to the woods. It was thought that the 
fiinges, foim and color, blended them so completely with the 
foliage as to render them in a manner invisible to one at a dis- 
tance, or at least undistinguished. They Avere much in favor 
Avith all- the forest corps of America, and formed the usual uni- 
fonn of the riflemen of the Avoods, Avhether acting against man 
or only against the Avild beasts. 

Neither Mr. Worden nor Jason moved Avith the main party ; 
and it was precisely on account of these distinctions of dress. 
As for the divine, he was so good a stickler for appearances, he 
Avould have worn the gown and surplice even on a mission to 
the Indians; which, by the Avay, Avas ostensibly his present 
business ; and at the several occasions on Avhich I saw him at 
cockfights, he kept on the clerical coat and shovel-hat. In a 
word, Mr. Worden never neglected externals so far as dress was 
concerned; and I much question, if he Avould have consented 
to read prayers Avithout the surplice, or to 2')reach without the 
gown, let the desire for spiritual provender be as great as it 
iniglit. I very Avell remember to have heard my fothcr say, 



SATANSTOE. o25 

that on one occasion llio parson liad refused to ofliciatc of a 
Sunday, when travelling, rather than bring discredit on the 
church by appearing in the discharge of his holy office without 
the appliances that belonged to the clerical character. 

"More harm than good is done to religion, Mr. Littlepagc," 
said the Rev. Mr. Worden on that occasion, "by thus lessening 
its rites in vulgar eyes. The first thing is to teach men to re- 
spect holy things, my dear sir ; and a clergyman in his gown 
and surplice, commands threefold the respect of one without 
them. I consider it, therefore, a sacred duty to uphold the 
dignity of my office on all occasions." 

It was in consequence of these opinions, that the divine trav- 
elled in his clerical hat, clerical coat, black breeches and band, 
even when in pursuit of the souls of red men among the wilds 
of North America ! I Avill not take it upon myself to say these 
observances had not their use ; but I am very certain they put 
the reverend gentleman to a great deal of inconvenience. 

As for Jason, he gave a Danbury reason for travelling in his 
best. Every body did so in his quarter of the country ; and 
for his part, he thought it disrespectful to strangers to appear 
among them in old clothes ! There was, however, another and 
truer reason, and that was economy ; for the troops had so far 
raised the price of every thing, that Jason did not hesitate to 
pronounce Albany the dearest place he had ever been in. 
There w^as some tinith in this allegation ; and the distance from 
New York being no less than one hundred and sixty miles — so 
reported — the reader will at once sec it was the business of 
quite a month, or even more, to refurnish the shelves of the 
shop that had been emptied. The Dutch not only moved slowly, 
but they Avere methodical ; and the shopkeeper whose stores 
were exhausted in April, would not be apt to think of replenish- 
ing them until the regular time and season returned. 

As a consequence of these views and motives, the Rev. Mr. 
Worden and !Mr. Jason Newcomc left Albany twenty-four hours 
in advance of the rest of our party, with the understanding 
they were to join us at a point where the road led into the 



326 8ATANST0E. 

woods, and -where it waa thought the cocked hat and the skin 
cap might travel iu company liarmoniously. There was, how- 
ever, a reason for the separation I have not yet named, in tlie 
fact that all of my own set travelled on foot, three or four pack- 
horses carrying our necessaries. Now Mr. Worden had been 
offered a seat in a government conveyance, and Jason managed 
to worm himself into the party in some way that to me was ever 
inexplicable. It is, however, due to Mr. Newcome to confess 
that his faculty of obtaining favors of all sorts, waB of a most 
extraordinary character ; and he certainly never lost any chance 
of preferment for want of asking. In this respect Jason was 
always a moral enigma to me ; there being an absolute absence 
in his mind, of every thing like a perception of the fitness of 
things, so far as the claims and rights of persons were connect- 
ed with rank, education, birth and experience. Rank, in the 
official sense, once possessed, he understood and respected ; but 
of the claims to entitle one to its enjoyment, he seemed to have 
no sort of notion. For property he had a profound deference, 
so far as that deference extended to its importance and influ- 
ence ; but it would have cost him not tlie slightest qualm, 
either in the way of conscience or feeling, to find himself sud- 
denly installed in the mansion of the patroons, for instance, and 
placed in possession of their estates, provided only he fancied 
he could maintain his position. The circimistance that he was 
dwelling under the roof that was erected by another man's 
ancestors, for instance, and that others were living who had a 
better moral right to it, would give him no sort of trouble, so 
long as any quirk of the law w^ould sustain him in possession. 
In a word, all that was allied to sentiment, in matters of this 
nature, was totally lost on Jason Newcome, who lived and 
acted, from the hour he first came among us, as if the game of 
life were merely a game of puss in the corner, in which he who 
inadvertently left his own post unprotected, would be certain to 
find another filling his place as speedily as possible. I have 
mentioned this propensity of Jason's at some little length, as I 
feel certain, should this liistory be earned down by my own 



SATANSTOE. 327 

posterity as I Lope and design, it ■will be seen that tins disposi- 
tion to regard tlie whole human family as so many tenants ir 
common of the estate left by Adam, will lead in the end, tc 
something extraordinary. But leaving the Rev. Mr. Worder 
and Mr. Jason Newcome to journey in thejr public conveyance, 
I must proceed to our own party. 

All of us men, with the exception of those who drove the 
two wagons of Herman Mordaunt, marched afoot. Each of 
us carried a knapsack, in addition to his rifle and ammunition ; 
and it will be imagined that our day's work was not a very long 
one. The first day we halted at Madam Schuyler's by invita- 
tion, where we all dined ; including the surveyor. Lord Howe 
Avas among the guests, that day ; and he appeared to admire 
the spirit of Anncke and Mary Wallace greatly, in attempting 
such -an expedition at such a time. 

" You need have no fears, however, ladies, as we shall keep 
u]) strong detachments between you and the French," he said, 
more gravely, after some pleasant trifling on the subject. " Last 
summer's work, and the disgraceful manner in which poor 
Muuro was abandoned to his fate, have rendered us all keenly 
alive to the importance of compelling the enemy to remain at 
the north end of Lake George ; too many battles having already 
been fought on this side it, for the credit of the British arms. 
We pledge ourselves to your safety." 

Anneke thanked him for this pledge, and the conversation 
changed. There Avas a young man present who bore the name 
of Schuyler, and who was nearly related to Madam, with whose 
air, manner and appearance I was much struck. His aunt 
called him "PhUip;" and being about my own age, during 
this visit I got into conversation with him. He told me he was 
attached to the commissariat under General Bradstreet, and 
that he should move on with the army as soon as the prepara- 
tions for its marching were completed. He then entered into 
a clear, simple explanation of the supposed plan of the ap- 
proaching campaign. 

" We shall sec you and your friends among us then, I hope," 



328 SATANSTOE. 

lie added, as wc were walking on tlie lawn togetlicr, previoui-ly 
to the summons to dinner ; " for, to own to you the truth, Mr. 
Littlcpage, I do not half like the necessity of our having so 
many eastern troops among us to clear this colony of its ene- 
mies. . It is true, a nation must fight its foes wherever they may 
happen to be found ; but there is so little in common between 
us and the Yankees, that I could wish we were strong enough 
to beat back the French alone." 

" We have the same sovereign and the same allegiance, 
I answered; "if you can call that something in common." 

" That is tiTie ; yet, I think you must have enough Dutch 
blood about you to understand me. My duty calls me much 
among the ditferent regiments ; and I will own that I find more 
trouble with one New England regiment, than with a whole 
brigade of the other troops. They have generals and colonels, 
and majors enough for the army of the Duke of Marlborough !" 

" It is certain there is no want of military rank among them 
— and they are particularly fond of referring to it." 

" Quite true," answered young Schuyler, smiling. *' You 
will hear the Avord * general' or ' colonel' oftener used in one of 
their cantonments, in a day, than you shall hear it at head- 
quarters in a month. They have capital points about them too ; 
yet, somehoAv or other, we do not like each other." 

Twenty years later in life, I had reason to remember this 
remark, as well as to reflect on the character of the man who 
had uttered it. I, or my successors, will probably have occa- 
sion to advert to matters connected with this feeling in the later 
passages of this record. 

I had also a little conversation with Lord Howe, who compli- 
mented me on what had passed on the river. He had eAddently 
received an account of that affair from some one who was much 
my friend, and saw fit to allude to the subject in a way that was 
very agreeable to myself. This short conversation was not 
worth repeating, but it opened the way to an acquaintance that 
subsequently was connected with some events of interest. 

"About an hour after dinner, our party took its leave of 



SATANSTOE. 



329 



Madam Schuyler, and moved on. The day's march was intended 
to be short, though by this time the roads were settled, and 
tolerably good. Of roads, however, we Avere not long to enjoy 
the advantages, for they extended only some thirty miles to the 
north of Albany, in our direction. AVith the exception of the 
military route, which led direct to the head-waters of Late 
Champlain, this was about the extent of all the avenues that 
penetrated the interior in that quarter of the country. Our 
direction was to the northward and eastward, both Ravensnest 
and Mooseridge lying slightly in the direction of the Hampshire 
grants. 

As soon as we reached the jioint on the great northern road, 
or that which led toward Skeenesborough, Herman Mordaunt 
was obliged to quit his wagons, and to put all the females on 
horseback. The most necessary of the stores were placed on 
packhorses : and after a delay of half a day, time lost in mak- 
ing these arrangements, we proceeded. The wagons were to 
follow, but at a slow pace, the ladies being compelled to aban- 
don them on account of the ruggedness of the ways, which 
would have rendered their motion not easy to be borne. Our 
cavalcade and train of footmen made a respectable display along 
the uneven road, which soon became very little more than a 
line cut through the forest, with an occasional wheel-track, but 
Avithout the least attempt to level the surface of the ground by 
any artificial means. This was the place where we were to 
overtake Mr. Worden and Jason, and where we did find their 
eflfects ; the owners themselves having gone on in advance, 
leaving word that we should fall in with them somewhere on 
the route. 

Guert and I marched in front, our youth and vigor enabling 
us to do this with great case to ourselves. Knowing that the 
ladies were well cared for on horseback, we pushed on in order 
to make provision for their recej^tion at a house a few miles 
distant, where we were to pass the night. This building was of 
iOgs, of course, and stood quite alone in the wilderness, having 
however some twenty or thirty acres of cleared laud around 



330 SATANSTOE. 

it ; and it would not do to pass it at that time of tlie day. The 
distance from this solitary dwelling to the first habitation on 
Herman Mordaunt's property, was eighteen miles ; and that was 
a length of road that would require the whole of a long May 
day to overcome under our circumstances. 

Guert and myself might have been about a mile in advance 
of the rest of the party, when we saw a sort of semi-clearing 
before us, that we mistook at first for our resting-place. A few 
acres had been chopped over, letting in the light of the day 
upon the gloom of the forest, but the second growth was already 
shooting up, covering the area with high bushes. As we drew 
nearer we saw it was a small abandoned clearing. Entering; 
it, voices were heard at no great distance, and we stopped ; for 
the human voice is not heard in such a place without causing 
the traveller to pause, and stand to his arms. This we did ; 
after which we listened with some curiosity and caution. 

" High !" exclaimed some one very distinctly in English. 

"Jack !" said another voice, in a sort of answering second 
that could not well be mistaken. 

" There's three for low ; — is that good ?" put in the first 
speaker. 

" It Avill do, sir ; but here arc a ten and an ace. Ten and 
three, and four and two make nineteen; — I'm game." 

" High, low, jack, and game !" whispered Guert; " here arc 
fellows playing at cards near us ; let us go on and beat up their 
quarters." 

We did so ; and pushing aside some bushes, broke, quite 
unexpectedly to all parties, on the Rev. Mr. Worden and Jason 
Newcomc playing the game of " all-fours on a stump ;" or if 
not literally in the classic position of using " the stump," sub- 
stituting the trunk of a fallen tree for their table. As we broke 
suddenly in upon the card-players, Jason gave unequivocal 
signs of a disposition to conceal his hand, by thrusting the cards 
he held into his bosom, while he rapidly put the remainder of 
the pack under his thigh, pressing it down in a way completely 
to conceal it. This sudden movement was merely the efiect of 



SATANSTOK. 331 

a Puritciiiical education, Avliicli having taiiglit liim to consider 
that as a sin -which was not necessarily a sin at all, exacted from 
him that hypocrisy which is the tribute that vice pays to virtue. 
Very dillerent was the conduct of the Rev. Mr. Worden, 
Taught to discriminate better, and unaccustomed to set up ar- 
bitrary rules of his own as the law of God, this loose observer of 
his professional obligations in other matters, made a very proper 
distinction in this. Instead of giving the least manifestation of 
confusion or alarm, the log on which he was seated was not 
more unmoved than he remained at our sudden appearance at 
his side. 

" I hope, Corny, my dear boy," Mr. Worden cried, *' that 
you did not forget to purchase a few packs of cards ; which I 
plainly see will be a great resource for us in this woody region. 
These cards of Jason's are so thumbed and handled, that they 
are not fit to be touched by a gentleman, as I will show you. 
AVhy, what has become of the pack, Master Newcome ? It was 
on the log but a minute ago !" 

Jason actually blushed ! Yes, for a wonder, shame induced 
Jason Newcome to change color ! The cards were reluctantly 
produced from beneath his leg, and there the schoolmaster sat, 
as it might be in the presence of his school, actually convicted 
of being engaged in the damning sin of handling certain spotted 
pieces of paper, invented for, and used in the combinations of a 
game played for amusement. 

*' Had it been ' push-pin,' now," Gucrt whispered, "it would 
give Mr. Newcome no trouble at all. But he does not admire 
the idea of being caught at 'all-fours, on a stump.' We must 
say a word to relieve the poor sinner's distress. I have 
cards, Mr. Worden, and they shall be much at your service, 
as soon as we can come at our effects. There is one pack in 
my knapsack, but it is a little soiled by use, though somewhat 
cleaner than that. If you wish it, I will hand it to you. I 
never travel without carrjang one or two clean packs with mc." 

*' Not just now, sir, I thank you. I love a game of whist, or 
piquet, but cannot say I am an admirer of all-fours. As Mr. 



332 6ATANST0E. 

Newcome knows no otlicr, we were merely killing lialf iin liour 
at that game ; but I have enough of it to last me for the sum- 
mer. I am glad that cards have not been forgotten, however ; 
for I dare say we can make up a very respectable party at 
whist, when we all meet." 

** That we can, sir, and a party that shall have its good play- 
ers. Miss Mary Wallace plays as good a hand at whist as a 
woman should, Mr. Worden ; and a very pretty accomplish- 
ment it is, for a lady to possess ; iiseful, sir, as well as enter- 
taining ; for any thing is preferable to a dummy. I do not 
think a woman should play quite as well as a man, our sex hav- 
ing a natural claim to lead, in all such things ; but it is very 
convenient sometimes, to find a lady who can hold her hand 
with coolness and skill." 

"I would not marry a woman who did not understand pi- 
quet," exclaimed the Eev. Mr. Worden ; " to say nothing of 
whist, and one or two other games. But let us be moving, 
since the hour is getting late." 

Move on we did, and in due time we all reached the place at 
which we were to halt for the night. This looked like plung- 
ing into the wilderness indeed ; for the house had but two 
rooms, one of which was appropriated to the use of the females, 
Avhile most of us men took up our lodgings in the barn. An- 
iicke and Mary Wallace, however, showed the most perfect 
good-humor ; and our dinner, or supper might better be the 
name, "vwis composed of deliciously fat and tender broiled pig- 
eons. It was the pigeon season, the woods being full of the 
birds ; and we were told we might expect to feast on the young 
to satiety. 

About noon the next day, we reached the first clearing on 
the estate of Eavcnsnest. The country through which we were 
travelling was rolling rather than bold ; but it possessed a fea- 
ture of grandeur in its boundless forests. Our route that day, 
lay \mder lofty arches of young leaves, the buds just breaking 
into the first green of the foliage, tall, straight columns, sixty, 
eighty, and sometimes a hundred foot of the trunks of the trees. 



SATANSTOE. 333 

rising almost witliout a branch. The pines, in particular were 
really majestic, most of them being a hundred and fifty feet in 
height, and a few, as I should think, nearly if not quite two 
hundred. As every thing grows toward the upper light in the 
forest, this ought not to surprise those who are accustomed to 
see vegetation expand its powers in wide-spreading tops, and 
low, gnarled branches that almost touched the ground, as is 
the case in the open fields, and on the lawns of the older regions. 
As is usual in the American virgin forests, there was very little 
under-brush ; and we could see frequently a considerable dis- 
tance through these long vistas of trees ; or, indeed, until the 
number of the stems intercepted the siglit. 

The clearings of Ravensnest were neither very large nor very 
inviting. In that day the settlement of new lands was a slow 
and painful operation, and was generally made at a great outlay 
to the proprietor. Various expedients were adopted to free the 
earth fronj its load of trees ; * for at that time, the commerce of the 
colonics did not reward the toil of the settler in the same liberal 
manner as has since occurred. Herman Mordaunt, as we moved 
along, related to me the cost and trouble he had been at already, 
in getting the ten or fifteen families who were on his property, 
in the first place, to the spot itself; and in the second place, to 
induce them to remain there. Not only was he obliged to 
grant leases for three lives, or in some cases, for thirty or forty 
years, at rents that were merely nominal, but as a rule, the first 



* The late venerable Ileiulrick Frcy was a man well known to all who dwelt in tbo 
valley of the Mohawk, lie had been a friend, contemporary, and it is believed an 
executor, of the celebrated Sir William .Johnson, Bart. Thirty years since ho related 
to the writer the following anecdote. Young Johnson first appeared in tho valley as 
the agent of a property belonging to his kinsman, Admiral Sir Peter Warren, K. B. ; 
who having married in tho colony, had acquired several estates in it. Among other 
tracts was one called Warrensbush, on tho Mohawk, on which young Johnson first 
resided. Finding it dilEcult to get rid of the trees around his dwelling, Johnson sent 
down to the admiral, at New York, to provide some purchases with which to haul tho 
trees down to the e.arth, after grubbing and cutting the roots on one side. An aero 
was lowered in this manner, each tree necessarily lying at a larger angle to the earth 
than tho nest beneath it. An easterly wind came ono night, and to Johnson's sur- 
prise ho found half his trees erect again, on rising in tho morning! The mode of 
clearing lands by "purch.isct," was then abandoned. — Editou. 



334 SATANSTOE. 

six or ciglit jears tlic tenants were to pay no rent at all. On 
tlie contrary, he was obliged to extend to them many favors in 
various ways, that cost no inconsiderable sum in the course of 
the year. Among other things, his agent kept a small shop, 
that contained the most ordinary supplies used by families of 
the class of the settler, and these he sold at little more than 
cost for their accommodation, receiving his pay in such articles 
as they could raise from their half-tilled fields, or their sugar- 
bushes, and turning those again into money, only after they 
were transported to Albany, at the end of a considerable period. 
In a word, the commencement of such a settlement was an 
arduous undertaking, and the experiment was not very likely to 
succeed, unless the landlord had both capital and patience. 

The political economist can have no difficulty in discovering 
the causes of the circumstances just mentioned. They were to 
be found in the fact that people were scarce, while land was 
superabundant. In such a condition of society, the tenant had 
the choice of his farm, instead of the landlord's having a selec- 
tion of his tenants, and the latter were to be bought only on 
such conditions as suited themselves. 

"You see," continued Herman Mordaunt, as we walked 
together, conversing on this subject, "that my twenty thou- 
sand acres are not likely to be of much use to myself, even 
should they prove to be of any to my daughter. A century 
hence, indeed, my descendants may benefit from all this outlay 
of money and trouble ; but it is not probable that either I or 
Anneke will ever see the principal and interest of the sums that 
will be expended in the way of roads, bridges, mills, and other 
things of that sort. Years must go by, before the light rents, 
which will only begin to be paid a year or two hence, and then 
only by a very few tenants, can amount to a sufficient sum to 
meet the expenses of keeping up the settlement, to say nothing 
of the quit-rents to be paid to the crown." 

" This is not very encouraging to a new beginner in the occu- 
pation of a landlord," I answered ; " and when I look into the 
facts, I confess I am surprised that so many gentlemen in the 



SAT A NS TOE. 335 

colony are willing to invest tlie sums they annually do in wild 
lands." 

" Every man who is at his case in his moneyed affairs, Corny, 
feels a disposition to make some provision for his posterity. 
This estate, if kept together and in single hands, may make 
some descendant of mine a man of fortune. Half a century 
will produce a great change in this colony ; and at the end of 
that period, a child of Anneke's may be thankful that his mother 
had a father who was willing to throw away a few thousands of 
his own, the surplus of a fortune that was sufficient for his 
wants without them, in order that his gi'andson may see them 
converted into tens, or possibly into hundreds of thousands." 

" Posterity will, at least, owe us a debt of gratitude, Mr. 
Mordaunt ; for I now see that Mooseridge is not likely to make 
either Dirck or myself very affluent patroons." 

" On that you may rely. Satanstoe will produce you more 
than the large tracts you possess in this quarter." 

"Do you no longer fear, sir, that the war, and apprehension 
of Indian ravages, may drive your people off?" 

" Not much at present, though the danger was great at one 
time. The war marj do me good as well as harm. The armies 
consume every thing they can get — soldiers resembling locusts 
in this respect. My tenants have had the commissaries among 
them ; and I am told every blade of grass they can spare — all 
their surplus grain, potatoes, butter, cheese, and in a word, 
every thing that can be eaten, and with which they are willing 
to part, has been contracted for at the top of the market. The 
king pays in gold, and the sight of the precious metals will 
keep even a Yankee from moving." 

About the time this was said, we came in sight of the spot 
Herman Mordaunt had christened Eavensnest ; a name that had 
since been applied to the whole property. It was a log build- 
ing that stood on the verge of a low cliff of rocks, at a point 
where a bird of that appellation had originally a nest on the 
uppermost branches of a dead hemlock. The building had 
been placed and erected with a view to defence, having served 



J33G SATANSTOE. 

for some time as a sort of rallying poiut o tlic families of the 
tenantry, in the event of an Indian alarm. At the commence- 
ment of the present war, taking into view the exposed position 
of his possessions on that frontier — frontier as to settlement, if 
not as to territorial limits — Herman Mordaunt had caused some 
attention to be paid to his fortifications ; which, though they 
might not have satisfied Mons. Vauban, were not altogether 
without merit, considered in reference to their use in case of a 
surprise. 

The house foruied three sides of a parallelogram, the open 
portion of the court in the centre facing the cliflf. A strong 
picket served to make a defence against bullets on that side ; 
while the dead walls of solid logs were quite impregnable against 
any assault known in forest warfare but that of fire. All the 
windows opened on the court ; while the single outer door was 
picketed, and otherwise protected by coverings of plank. I was 
glad to sec by the extent of this rude structure, which was a 
hundred feet long by fifty in depth, that Anneke and Mary 
Wallace would not be likely to be straitened for room. Such 
proved to be the fact ; Herman Mordaunt's agent having pre- 
pared four or five apartments for the family, that rendered them 
as comfortable as people could well expect to be in such a situ- 
ation. Every thing was plain, and many things were rude ; but 
shelter, Avamith and security had not been neglected. 



BATANSTOE. 331 



CHAPTER XXL 

"And long shall timorous fancy see, 
The painted chief and pointed spear; 
And Reason's self shall bow the knee 
To shadows and delusions here." 

Feeneait. 

It is not necessary to dwell on tlie manner in wliicli Herman 
Morclaunt and his companions became establislied at Ravens- 
nest. Two or three days sufficed to render them as comfort- 
able as circumstances would permit ; then Dirck and I bethought 
us of proceeding in quest of the lands of Mooseridge. Mr. 
Worden and Jason both declined going any further ; the mill- 
seat, of which the last was in quest, being, as I now learned, on 
the estate of Herman Mordaunt, and having been for some time 
the subject of a negotiation between the pedagogue and its 
owner. As for the divine, he declared that he saw a suitable 
" field" for his missionary labor where he was ; while it was easy 
to see that he questioned if there were fields of any sort, where 
we were going. 

Our party on quitting Ravcnsncst, consisted of Dirck and 
myself, Guert, Mr. Traverse the sun-eyor, three chain-bearers, 
Jaap or Yaap, Guert' s man Pete, and one woodsman or hunter. 
This would have given us ten vigorous and well armed men, for 
our v?hole force. It was thought best, however, to add two 
Indians to our number, in the double character of hunters and 
runners, or messengers. One of these Indians was called 
Jumper, in the language of the settlement where we found 
them, and the other Trackless ; the latter sobriquet having been 
given him on account of a faculty he possessed of leaving little 
or no trail in his journeys and marches. This Indian was about 
six- and- twenty years of age, and was called a Mohawk, living 
with the people of that tribe ; though I subsequently ascertained 
]5 



liob 8ATANST0K. 

that lie was in fact an Onondago* by birth. His true name 
was Susquesus or Crooked Turns ; an appellation that miglit or 
Miiglit not spealc well of bis character, as the "turns" were 
regarded in a moral or in a physical sense. 

" Take that man, Mr, Littlepage, by all means," said Herman 
Mordaunt's agent, when the matter was under discussion. You 
will find him as useful in the woods as your pocket-compass, 
besides being a reasonably good hunter. He left here as a 
runner during the heaviest of the snows last winter, and a trial 
was made to find his trail within half an hour after he had quit- 
ted the clearing, but without success. He had not gone a mile 
in the woods before all traces of him were lost, as completely as 
if he had made the journey in the air." 

As Susquesus had a reputation for sobriety, as was apt to be 
the case with the Onondagoes, the man was engaged, though 
one Indian would have been suflicicnt for our purpose. But 
Jumper had been previously hired ; and it would have been 
dangerous under our circumstances, to ofi'end a red man, by 
putting him aside for another, even after compensating him fully 
for the disappointment. By Mr. Traverse's advice therefore, 
we took both. Tlie Indian, or Mohawk name of Jumper was 
Quissquiss, a term that I fancy signified nothing very honorable 
or illustrious. 

The girls betrayed deep interest in us, on our taking leave ; 
more, I thought, than either had before manifested. Guert had 
told me privately, of an intention on his part to make another 
ofier to Mary Wallace ; and I saw the traces of it in the tearful 
eyes and flushed cheeks of his mistress. But at such a moment, 
one does not stop to think much of such things ; there being 
tears in Anneke's eyes, as well as in those of her friend. "We had 
a thousand good wishes to exchange ; and we promised to keep 
open the communication between the two parties, by means of 

♦Pronounced On-on-daw-ger, the latter syllable hard; or like pa, as it is some- 
times spelled. This is the name of one of the midland counties of New York. Tho 
tribe from which it is derived, in these later times, has ever borne a better name 
for morals, than its neighbors, tho Oneidas, the Mohawks, etc., etc. The Ouondagoca 
belonged to the Six Nations —Editoe. 



SATANSTOE. 1139 

our runners, semi-weekly. The distance, wliicli would vary 
from fifteen to tliirty miles, would readily admit of this, since 
either of the Indians would pass over it, with the greatest ease 
to himself, in a day at that season of the year. 

After all, the separation was to be short, for we had promised 
to come over and dine with Herman Mordaunt on his fiftieth 
birth-day, which would occur within three weeks. This ar- 
rangement made the parting tolerable to us young men, and 
our constitutional gayety did the rest. Half an hour after the 
last breakfast at Ravensnest saw us all on our road, cheerful, 
if not absolutely happy. Herman Mordaunt accompanied us 
three miles ; which led him to the end of his own settlements, 
and to the edge of the virgin forest. There he took his leave, 
and we pursued our way with the utmost diligence for hours, 
with the compass for our guide, until we reached the banks of 
a small river that was supposed to lie some three or four miles 
from the southern boundaries of the patent we sought. I say, 
"supposed to lie," for there existed then, and I believe there 
stiU exists, much uncertainty concerning the landmarks of dif- 
ferent estates in the woods. On the banks of this stream, which 
was deep but not broad, the surveyor called a halt, and we made 
our dispositions for dinner. Men who had walked as far and 
as fast as we had done, made but little ceremony, and for 
twenty minutes every one was busy in appeasing his hunger. 
This was no sooner accomplished, however, than Mr. Traverse 
summoned the Indians to the side of the fallen tree on which 
we had taken our seats, when the first occasion occurred for 
putting the comparative intelligence of the two mnncrs to the 
proof. At the same time the principal chain-bearer, a man 
whose life had been passed in his present occupation, was 
brought into the consultation, as follows. 

" "We are now on the banks of this stream, and about this 
bend in it," commenced the surveyor, pointing to the precise 
curv'ature of the river on a map he had spread before him, at 
which he supposed we were actually situated; "and the next 
thing is to find that ridge on which the moose was killed, and 



340 SATANSTOK. 

across wliicli the lino of the patent we seek is known to run. 
This abstract of the title teUs us to look for a corner somewhere 
off here, about a mile or a mile and a half from this bend in the 
river — a black oak with its top broken off by the wind, and 
standing in the centre of a triangle made by three chestnuts. 
I think you told me, David, that you had never borne a chain 
on any of these ridges ?" 

"No, sir, never;" answered David, the old chain-bearer 
already mentioned ; " my business never having brought mc 
out so far east. A black oak with corner blazes on it, and its 
top broken down by the wind, and standing atween three chest- 
nuts, howsomedever, can be nothing so very hard to find, for a 
person that's the least acquainted. These Injins will be the 
likeliest bodies to know that tree, if they've any nat'ral knowl- 
edge of the country." 

Know a tree ! There we were, and had been for many 
hours in the bosom of the forest, with trees in thousands 
ranged around us ; trees had risen on our march, as horizon 
extends beyond horizon on the ocean, and this chain-bearer 
fancied it might be in the power of one who often passed 
through these dark and untenanted mazes, to recognize any 
single member of those countless oaks, and beeches, and pines ! 
Nevertheless, Mr. Traverse did not seem to regard David's sug- 
gestion as so very extravagant, for he turned toward the Indians 
and addressed himself to them. 

" How's this ?" he asked ; " Jumper, do you know any thing 
of the sort of tree I have described ?" 

*' No," was the short, sententious answer. 

"Then, I fear there is little hope that Trackless is any wiser, 
as you are Mohawk bom, and he, they tell me, is at bottom an 
Onondago. What say you. Trackless? can you help us to find 
the tree?" 

My eyes were fastened on Susquesus, as soon as the Indians 
were mentioned. There he stood, straight as the tinink of a 
pine, light and agile in person, with nothing but his breech- 
eloth, moccasins, and a blue calico shirt belted to his loins with 



SATANSTOE. oil 

a scarlet band, tlirougli wliicli was tlivust tlic Laudle of liis 
tomaliawk, and to which were attached his shot-pouch and 
liorn, while his rifle rested against his body, butt downward. 
Trackless was a singularly handsome Indian, the unpleasant 
peculiarities of his people being but faintly portrayed in his 
face and form ; while their nobler and finer qualities came out 
in strong relief. His nose was almost aquiline ; his eye, dark 
as night, was restless and piercing ; his hmbs Apollo-like ; and 
Ms front and bearing had all the fearless dignity of a warrior, 
blended with the grace of nature. The only obvious defects 
were in his walk, which was Indian, or in-toed and bending at 
the knee ; but to counterbalance these, his movements were 
light, springy and swift. I fancied him in figure, the very bcau- 
ideal of a runner. 

During the time the surveyor was speaking, the eye of Sus- 
quesus was seemingly fastened on vacancy, and I would have 
defied the nicest observer to detect any consciousness of what 
was in hand in the countenance of this forest stoic. It was not 
his business to speak while an older runner and an older war- 
rior was present — for Jumper was both — and he waited for 
others, who might know more, to reveal their knowledge ere 
he produced his own. Thus directly addressed, however, all 
reserve vanished, and he advanced two or three steps, cast a 
curious glance at the map, even put a finger on the river, the 
devious course of which it followed across the map, much as a 
child would trace any similar object that attracted his attention. 
Susquesus knew but little of maps it was clear enough ; but the 
result showed that he knew a great deal about the woods, his 
native field of action. 

" Well, what do you make of my map, Trackless," repeated 
the surveyor. " Is it not drawn to suit your fancy ?" 

"Good" — returned the Onondago with emphasis. "Now 
show Susquesus your oak tree." 

"Here it is. Trackless. You sec it is a tree drawn in ink; 
with a broken top, and here are the three chestnuts in a sort of 
triangle around it. 



342 SATANSTOE. 

The Indian examined tlie tree witli some interest, and a slight 
(5mile illumined his handsome though dark countenance, lie 
was evidently pleased at this proof of accuracy in the colony 
surveyors, and no doubt thought the better of them for the 
fidelity of their work. 

" Good," he repeated in his low, guttural, almost feminine 
voice, so soft and mild in its tone. " Very good- The pale- 
faces know every thing ! Now, let my brother find the tree." 

"Tliat is easier said than done, Susquesus," answered Tra- 
verse, laughing. "It is one thing to sketch a tree on a map, 
and another to go to its root, as it stands in the forest, suiTound- 
cd by thousands of other trees." 

*' Pale-face must first see him, or how paint him? Where 
painter ?" 

"Ay, the surveyor saw the tree once, and marked it once, 
but that is not finding it again. Can you tell me where the 
oak stands ? Mr. Littlepage will give the man who finds that 
corner a French crown. Put me anywhere on the line of the 
old survey, and I will ask fiivors of no one." 

"Painted tree <Acr<?," said Susquesus, pointing a little scorn- 
fully at the map, as it seemed to me. "Pale-faco can't find 
him in wood. Live tree out yonder ; Injin know." 

Trackless pointed with great dignity toward the north-cast, 
standing motionless as a statue the while, as if inviting the closest 
possible scrutiny into the correctness of his assertion. 

" Can you lead us to the tree ?" demanded Traverse eagerly. 
"Do it, and the money is yours." 

Susquesus made a significant gesture of assent ; then he set 
about collecting the scanty remains of his dinner, a precaution 
in which we imitated him, as a supper would be equally agree- 
able as the meal just taken, a few hours later. When every 
thing was put away, and the packs were on our shouldersi — not 
on those of the Indians, for they seldom condescended to carry 
burdens, which was an occupation for women — Trackless led 
the way in the direction he had already pointed out. 

Well did 'jhe Onondago deserve his name, as it seemed to mc, 



SATANSTOE. 043 

while lie threaded his way through that gloomy forest, without 
path, mark, or sign of any sort that was intelligible to others. 
Ilis pace was between a walk and a gentle trot, and it required 
all our muscles to keep near him. He looked to neither the 
right nor the left, but appeared to pursue his course guided by 
an instinct, or as the keen-scented hound follows the viewless 
traces of his game. This lasted for ten minutes, when Traverse 
called another halt, and we clustered together in council. 

" How much further do you think it maybe to the tree, 
Onondago V demanded the surveyor, as soon as the whole 
party was collected in a circle. " I have a reason for asking," 

*' So many minutes," answered the Indian, holding up five 
fingers, or the four fingers and thumb of his right hand. " Oak 
with broken top, and pale-face marks, there.'''' 

The precision and confidence with which the Trackless pointed 
not a little surprised me, for I could not imagine how any human 
being could pretend to be minutely certain of such a fact under 
the circumstances in which we weix; placed. So it was, how- 
ever, and so it proved in the end. In the mean time. Traverse 
proceeded to cany out his own plans. 

"As we are so near to the tree," he said, for the surveyor 
had no doubt of the red man's accuracy, "^iiemust also bo 
near the line. The last runs north and south, on this part of 
the patent, and we shall shortly cross it. Spread yourselves, 
therefore, chain-bearers, and look for blazed trees ; for, put me 
anywhere on the boundaries, and I'll answer for finding any 
oak, beech, or maple that is mentioned in the comers." 

As soon as this order was received, all the surveyor's men 
obeyed, opening the order of their march, and spreading them- 
selves in a way to extend their means of observing materially. 
When all w\as ready, a sign was made to the Indian to proceed. 
Susquesus obeyed, and we were all soon in quick motion again. 

Guert's activity enabled him to keep nearest to the Onon- 
dago, and a shout from his clear, fall throat, first announced 
the complete success of the search. In a moment the rest of 
• us pressed forward, and were soon at the end of our journey. 



344 SATANSTOE. 

There was Susqucsus, quietly leaning against tlic trunk of tlio 
broken oak, -witliout tlic smallest expression of triumpli in either 
liis manner or his countenance. That which he had done, he 
had done naturally, and without any apparent effort or hesita- 
tion. To him the forest had its signs and metes, and marks — 
as the inhabitant of the vast capital has his means of threading 
its mazes with the readiness of familiarity and habit. As for 
Traverse, he first examined the top of the tree, where he found 
the indicated fracture; then he looked round for the three 
chestnuts, each of which was in its place ; after which he drew 
near to look into the more particular signs of his craft. There 
they were, three of the inner sides of the oak being blazed ; the 
proof it was a comer ; while that Avhich had no scar on its sur- 
face looked outward or from the patent of Mooseridge. Just 
as all these agreeable facts were ascertained, shouts from the 
chain-bcai'crs south of us, announced that they had discovered 
the line — men of their stamp being quite as quick-sighted in 
ascertaining their own peculiar traces, as the native of the forest 
is in finding his way to any object in it which he has once seen, 
and may desire to revisit. By following the line, these men 
soon joined us, when they gave us the additional information 
that they had also actually found the skeleton of the moose 
that had given its name to the estate. 

Thus far all was well, our success much exceeding our hopes. 
The hunters were sent to look for a spring ; and one being 
found at no great distance, we all repaired to the spot, and 
hutted for the night. Nothing could be more simple than our 
encampment ; which consisted of coverings made of the branches 
of trees, with leaves and skins for our beds. Next day, how- 
ever. Traverse finding the position favorable for his work, de- 
termined to select the spot as head-quarters ; and we all set 
about the erection of a log-house, in which we might seek a 
shelter in the event of a storm, and where we might deposit 
our implements, spare ammunition, and such stores as we had 
brought with us on our backs. As every body worked with 
good- will at the erection of this rude building, and the laborera 



SATANSTOE. 345 

were very expert witli the axe, we liad it nearly complete by 
the setting of the next day's sun. Traverse chose the place 
because the water was abundant and good, and because a small 
knoll was near the spring, that was covered with young pines 
that were about fourteen or fifteen inches in diameter, while 
they grew to the height of near a hundred feet, with few 
branches, and straight as the Onondago. These trees were felled, 
cut into lengths of twenty and thirty feet, notched at the ends, 
and rolled alternately on each other, so as to enclose an area 
that was one-third longer than it Avas wide. The notches were 
deep, and brought the logs within two or three inches of each 
other ; and the interstices were filled with pieces of riven chest- 
nut, a wood that splits easily and in straight lines ; which pieces 
were driven hard into their beds, so as to exclude the Avinds 
and the rains. As the weather was warm, and the building 
somewhat airy at the best, we cut no windows, though we had 
a nan'ow door in the centre of one of the longer sides. For a 
roof we used the bark of the hemlock, which, at that season, 
came off in large pieces, and which was laid on sticks raised to 
the desired elevation by means of a ridge-pole. 

All this was making no more than one of the common log- 
houses of the new settlements, though in a more hurried and a 
less artificial manner than was usual. We had no chimney, for 
our cooking could be done in the open air ; and less attention 
was paid to the general finish of the work than might have been 
the case had we expected to pass the winter there. The floor 
was somewhat rude, but it had the cfi'ect of raising us from 
the ground, and giving us perfectly dry lodgings, an advantage 
not always obtained in the woods. It was composed of logs 
roughly squared on three sides, and placed on sleepers. To :my 
surprise Traverse directed a door to be made of riven logs, 
that were pinned together with cross-pieces, and which Avas 
hung on the usual wooden hinges. When I spoke of this aa 
unnecessary labor, occupying two men an entire day to com- 
plete, he reminded mc that we were much in advance from the 
settlements; that an active war was being waged around us, 



346 SATANSTOE. 

and that tLe agents of the French had been very busy among 
our own tribes, while those in Canada often pushed their war- 
parties far within our borders. He had always found a great 
satisfaction as well as security, in having a sort of citadel to 
retreat to, when on these exposed surveys ; and he never neg- 
lected the necessary precaution, when he fancied himself in the 
least danger. 

We were quite a week in completing our house ; though 
after the first day neither the surveyor nor his chain-bearers 
troubled themselves with the labor, any further than to make an 
occasional suggestion. Traverse and his men went to work in 
then- own pursuit, running lines to divide the patent into its 
great lots, each of which was made to contain a thousand acres. 
It should be mentioned that all the surveys in that day were 
made on the most liberal scale, our forty thousand acres turning 
out in the end to amount to quite three thousand more. So it 
was with the subdivisions of the patent, each of which was found 
to be of more than the nominal dimensions. Blazed trees, and 
records cut into the bark, served to indicate the lines, while a 
map went on ^:)a?*i 2)assic with the labor, the field-book contain- 
ing a description of each, lot, in order that the proprietor of the 
estate might have some notions of the nature of its soil and 
surface, as well as of the quality and sizes of the trees it bore. 

The original sun'cyors, those on whose labors the patent ol 
the king was granted, had a comparatively trifling duty to per- 
form. So long as they gave a reasonably accurate outline of 
an area that would contain forty thousand acres of land, more or 
less, and did not trespass on any prior grant, no material harm 
could be done, there being no scarcity of surface in the colony ; 
but Mr. Traverse had to descend to a httle more particularity. 
It is true he ran out his hundreds of acres daily, duly marking 
his corners and blazing his line-trees, but something very like a 
summer's work lay before him. This he understood, and his 
proceedings were as methodical and deliberate as the nature of 
his situation required. 

In a very few days, things had gotten fairly in train, and 



SATANSTOE. 347 

everybody was cmjjioycd in some manner that was found to be 
useful. The surveying party were making a very satisfactory 
progress, mnning out tlicir great lots between sun and sun, 
while Dirck and myself made the notes concerning their quality 
under the dictation of Mr. Traverse. Guert did little besides 
shoot and fish, keeping our larder well supplied with trout, 
pigeons, squirrels, and such other game as the season would 
allow, occasionally knocking over something in the shape of 
poor venison. The hunters brought us their share of eatables 
also ; and we did well enough in this particular, more especially 
as trout proved to be very abundant, Yaap, or Jaap, as I shall 
call him in future, and Pete performed domestic duty, acting 
as scullions and cooks, though the first was much better fitted 
to perform the service of a forester. The two Indians did little 
else for the first fortnight but come and go between Ravensncst 
and Mooseridge, carrying missives and acting as guides to the 
lumters, who went through once or twice within that period to 
bring us out supplies of flour, groceries, and other similar nec- 
essaries ; no inducement being able to prcvail on the Indians 
to carry any thing that approached a burden, either in weight 
or appearance. 

The surveying party did not always return to the hut at 
night, but it "camped out," as they called it, whenever the 
work led them to a distance on the other side of the tract. Mr. 
Traverse had chosen his position for head-quarters more in ref- 
erence to its proximity to the settlement at Ravensncst, than in 
reference to its position on the patent. It was suflficiently cen- 
tral to the latter as regarded a north and. south line, but was 
altogether on the western side of the property. As his surveys 
extended east, therefore, he was often carried too far from the 
building to return to it each night, though his absences never 
extended beyond the evening of the third day. In consequence 
of this arrangement, his people were enabled to carry the food 
they required, without inconvenience, for the periods they were 
away, coming back for fresh supplies as the lines brought them 
west again. Sundays were strictly observed by us all as days 



048 SATANSTOE. 

of rest, a respect to tlic day that is not always observed in llio 
forest ; lie wlio is in tlie solitude of the woods, like liim avIio 
roams athwart the wastes of the ocean, often forgetting that the 
spirit of the Creator is ahroad equally on the ocean and on the 
land, ready to receive that homage of his creatures which is a 
tribute due to beneficence without bounds, a holiness that is 
spotless, and a truth that is inherent. 

As Jumper or the Trackless returned from his constantly re- 
curring visits to our neighbors, we young men waited with im- 
patience for the letter that the messenger was certain to bear. 
This letter was sometimes written by Herman Mordaunt him- 
self, but oftcner by Anneke or Mary Wallace. It was addressed 
to no one by name, but unifonnly bore the superscription of 
"To the Hermits of Mooseridge;" nor was there any thing in 
the language to betray any particular attention to cither of the 
party. We might have liked it better, perhaps, could wc have 
received epistles that were a little more pointed in this particu- 
lar ; but those we actually got were much too precious to leave 
any serious grounds of complaint. One from Herman ^lordaunt 
reached us on the evening of the second Saturday, when our 
whole party were at home and assembled at supper. It was 
brought in by the Trackless, and among other matters contained 
this paragraph : 

" We learn that things hourly assume a more serious aspect 
with the armies. Our troops are pushing north in large bodies, 
and the French are said to be reinforcing. Living, as we do, 
out of the direct line of march, and fully thirty miles in the 
rear of the old battle-grounds, I should feel no apprehension, 
were it not for a report I hear that the woods are full of Indians. 
I very well know that such a report invariably accompanies the 
rear approach of hostilities in the frontier settlements, and is to 
be received with many grains of allov/ance ; but it seems so 
probable the French should push their savages on this flank of 
our amiy, to annoy it on the advance, that I confess the rumor 
has some influence on my feelings. We have been fortifying 
still more, and I would advise you not to neglect such a pre- 



SATANSTOK. 349 

caution altogether. The Canadian Indians are said to be more 
subtle tlian our own ; nor is government altogether without the 
apprehension that oi.r own have been tampered with. It was 
said at Albany that much French silver had been seen in the 
hands of the people of the Six Nations ; and that even French 
blankets, knives and tomahawks were more plentiful among 
them than might be accounted for by the ordinary plunder of 
their warfare. One of your runners, the man who is called the 
Trackless, is said to live out of his own tribe, and such Indians 
are always to be suspected. Their absence is sometimes owing 
to reasons that are creditable, but far oftener to those that are 
not. It may be well to have an eye on the conduct of this 
man. After all, we are in the hands of a beneficent and gra- 
cious God, and we know how often his mercy has saved us, on 
occasions more trying than this !" 

This letter was read several times among ourselves, including 
Mr. Traverse. As the oi 2wlloi of our party were eating out of 
car-shot, and the Indians had left us, it naturally induced a con- 
versation that turned on the risks we ran, and on the probability 
of Susquesus being false. 

" As for the rumor that the woods are full of Indians," the 
surveyor quietly observed, "it is very much as Herman Mor- 
daunt says — there is never a blanket seen, but feme magnifies 
it into a whole bale. There is danger to be apprehended from 
savages, I will allow, but not one-half that the settlers ordinarily 
imagine. As for the French, they are likely to need all their 
savages at Ty ; for they tell me General Abercrombie will go 
against them with three men to their one." 

"With that superiority, at least," I answered; "but after 
all, would not a sagacious ofiicer be likely to annoy his flank in 
the manner here mentioned?" 

" We arc every mile of forty to the eastward of the line of 
march ; and why should parties keep so distant from their 
enemies?" 

" Even such a supposition would place our foes between 
us and our friends ; no very comfortable consideration of it 



350 SATANSTOE. 

self. But wLat think you of this hint concerning the Onon- 
dago?" 

" There may be truth in that — more than in the report tliat 
the woods are full of savages. It is usually a bad sign when an 
Indian quits his tribe ; and this runner of ours is certainly an 
Onondago ; that I know, for the fellow has twice refused rum. 
Bread he will take as often as offered ; but rum has not wet 
his lips, since I have seen him, offered in fair weather or foul." 

"T'at is a bad sign" — put in Gucrt, a little dogmatically 
for him. "T'e man t' at refuses his glass, in good company, 
has commonly something wrong in his morals. I always keep 
clear of such, chaps." 

Poor Guert ! — How true that was, and what an influence the 
opinion had on his character and habits. As for the Indian, 
I could not judge him so harshly. There was something in his 
countenance that disposed me to put confidence in bim, at the 
very moment his cold, abstracted manners — cold and abstracted 
even for a red-skin in pale-face company — created doubts and 
distrust. 

" Certainly, nothing is easier than for a man in his situation 
to sell us," I answered, after a short pause, "if he be so dis- 
posed. But what could the French gain by cutting off a party 
as peaceably employed as this ? It can be of no moment to 
them, whether Mooseridge be surveyed into lots this year, or 
the next." 

" Quite true ; and I am of opinion that Monsieur Montcalm 
is very indifferent whether it be ever surveyed at all," returned 
Traverse, who was an intelligent and tolerably educated man. 
" You forget, however, Mr. Littlepage, that both parties offer 
sucb things as premiums on scalps. A Huron may not care 
about our lines, corners, and marked trees ; but he does care a 
great deal whether he is to go home with an empty string, or 
with balf-a-dozen human scalps at his girdle." 

I observed that Dirck thrust his fingers through his bushy 
hair, and that bis usually placid countenance assumed an indig- 
nant and semi-ferocious appearance. A little amused at this, 



SATANSTOE. 351 

1 wulkcd toward the log on wliicli Susqucsus wtis sciitcJ, Laving 
ended Lis meal in silent tLougLt. 

" WLat news do you bring us from tLe red-coats, Trackless ?'" 
I asked, witL as mucL of an air of indifference as I could assume. 
" Are tLey out in sufficient numbers to eat tLe FrencL ?" 

" Look at leaves ; count 'em ;" answered tLe Indian. 

"Yes, I know tLey are in force ; but wdiat are tLe red-skins 
about ? Is tLe LatcLet buried among tLe Six Nations, tLat you 
are satisfied witL being a runner wLen scalps may be Lad near 
Ticonderoga ?" 

"Susqucsus Onondago''' — tlio red man replied, laying a strong 
cmpLasis on tLe name of Lis tribe. " No MoLawk blood run 
in Lim. His people no dig up LatcLet tLis summer." 

" WLy not. Trackless ? You are allies of tLe Yengccsc, and 
ougLt to give us your aid, wLcn it is wanted." 

" Count leaves — count Ycngccse. Too mucL for one army. 
No want Onondago," 

"TLat may bo true, possibly, for we are certainly very 
strong. But, Low is it witL tLe woods — are tLey altogctLer 
clear of rod-skins, in times as troublesome as tLese?" 

Susquesus looked grave, but Le made no answer. Still, Le 
did not endeavor to avoid tLe keen look I fastened on Lis face, 
but sat composed, rigid, and gazing before Lim. Knowing tLe 
uselessness of attempting to get any tLing out of an Indian 
wLen Le was indisposed to be communicative, I tLougLt it 
wisest to cLange tLe discourse. TLis I did by making a few 
general inquiries as to tLe state of tLe streams, all of wLicL 
were answered, wLen I walked away. 



352 SATANSTOE 



CHAPTER XXII. 



"Fear not, till Uirnam wood 
'hall coiiio to Dunsin.ine." 

Macbetu. 



I CANNOT say I was quite satisfied with tlic manner of Sus- 
quesus ; nor on the other hand was I ahsolutely uneasy. All 
might be well ; and if it were not, the power of man to injure 
us could not be very great. A new occurrence, however, raised 
very unpleasant doubts of his honesty. Jumper being out on a 
hunt, the Onondago was sent across to Ravensnest the next trip, 
out of his turn ; but instead of returning, as had been the prac- 
tice of both, the next day, we saw no more of him for near a 
fortnight. As we talked over this sudden and unexpected dis- 
appearance, wc came to the conclusion that, perceiving he wiis 
distrusted, the fellow had deserted and would be seen no more. 
During his absence we paid a visit to Ravensnest ourselves, 
spending two or three happy days with the girls, whom we found 
delighted with the Avildness of their abode, and as happy as 
innocence, health, and ceaseless interest in the forest and its 
hnbits could make them. Herman Mordaunt having fortified 
his house sufficiently, as he fancied, to remove all danger of an 
assault, returned with us to Mooseridge, and passed two or three 
days in walking over and examining the quality of the land, 
together with the advantages offered by the watercourses. As 
for Mr. Worden and Jason, the former had gone to join the 
army, craving the flesh-pots of a regimental mess, in preference 
to the simple fare of the woods ; while Jason had driven a hard 
bargain with Hennan Mordaunt for the possession of the miU- 
scat, which had been the subject of frequent discussion between 
the parties, and about which the pedagogue had deemed it pru- 



BATANSTOE. 353 

dent to draw on tlic wisdom of Mother Doortjc. As tlie reader 
may liave some curiosity to know liow such things were con- 
ducted in the colony in the year 1*758, I will recapitulate the 
terms of the bargain that was finally agreed on, signed and 
sealed. 

Herman Mordaunt expected no emolument to himself, from 
Ravensnest, but looked forward solely to a provision for poster- 
ity. In consequence of these views he refused to sell, but gave 
leases on such conditions as would induce tenants to come into 
his terms, in a country in which land was far plentier than men. 
For some reason that never was very clear to me, he was par- 
ticularly anxious to secure Jason Newcome, and no tolerable 
terms seemed extravagant to effect his purpose. It is not sur- 
prising therefore that our miller in perspective got much the 
best of the bargain, as its conditions will show. 

The lease was for three lives, and twenty-one years afterward. 
This would have been thought equal to a lease for forty-two 
years in that day in Europe ; but experience is showing that it 
is in truth for a much longer period, in America.* The first 
ten years, no rent at all was to be paid. For the next ten, the 
land, five hundred acres, was to pay sixpence currency an acre, 
the tenant having the right to cut timber at pleasure. This was 
a great concession, as the mill-lot contained much pine. For 
the remainder of the lease, be it longer or shorter, a shilling an 
acre, or about sixpence sterling, was to be paid for the land, and 
forty pounds currency, or one hundred dollars a year, for the 
mill-seat. The mills to be taken by the landlord, at an appraisal 
"made by men," at the expiration of the lease; the tenant to 
pay the taxes. The tenant had the privilege of using all the 
materials for his dams, buildings, etc., he could find on the 
land. 

The policy of the owners of Mooseridgc was diilcrent. Wc 
intended to sell at low prices at first, reserving for leases hcrc- 



♦ It li.is been found that a tlircc-livcs' lease, iu llio stale of Now York, is equal to a 
term of more tlian thirty years. — Editor. 



354 BATANSTOE. 

after such farms as could not be immediately disposed of, or 
f<^r wliicli the purchaser foiled to pay. In this manner it was 
thought we should sooner get returns for our outlay, and sooner 
" build up a settlement," as the phrase goes. In America, the 
reader should know every thing is "built." The priest "builds 
up" a flock; the speculator a fortune; the lawyer a reputa- 
tion ; and the landlord a settlement ; sometimes with sufficient 
accuracy in language, he even builds a town. 

Jason was a very happy man the moment he got his lease 
signed and sealed in his own possession. It made him a sort 
of a landholder on the spot, and one who had nothing to pay 
for ten years to come. God forgive me, if I do the man in- 
justice ; but, from the first I had a suspicion that Jason trusted 
to fortune to prevent any pay-day from ever coming at all. As 
for Herman Mordaunt, he seemed satisfied, for he fancied that 
he had got a man of some education on his property, who 
might answer a good purpose in civilizing, and in otherwise 
advancing the interests of his estate. 

Just as the rays of the rising sun streamed through the crev- 
ices of our log tenement, and ere one of us three idlers had risen 
from his pallet, I heard a moccasined foot moving near me, in 
the nearly noiseless tread of an Indian. Springing to my feet, 
I found myself face to face with the missing Onondago ! 

" You here, Susquesus !" I exclaimed ; "we supposed you 
had abandoned us. What has brought you back?" 

" Time to go, now," answered the Indian, quietly, " Yen- 
geese and Canada warrior soon fight." 

" Is this true ! — z\.nd do you, can you know it to be time! 
Where have you been this fortnight past?" 

"Been see — have see — know him just so. Come — call 
young men ; go on war-path." 

Here, then, was an explanation of the mystery of the Onon- 
dago' s absence ! He had heard us speak of an intention of 
moving with the troops, at the last moment, and he had gone 
to reconnoitre, in order that wc might have seasonable notice 
when it would be necessary to quit the "Ridge," as we famil- 



SATANSTOE. o5b 

iavly termed the patent. I saw notliiug treasonable in this, 
but rather deemed it a sign of friendly interest in our concerns ; 
though it was certainly "running" much farther than the Indian 
had been directed to proceed, and " running" a little otF the 
track. One might overlook such an irregularity in a savage, 
however, more especially as I began to weary of the monotony 
of our present manner of living, and was not sorry to discover 
a plausible apology for a change. 

The reader may be certain, it was not long before I had 
communicated the intelligence brought by the Trackless, to my 
companions ; who received it as young men would be apt to 
listen to tidings so stirring. The Onondago was summoned to 
our council, and he renewed his protestation that it was time 
for us to be moving. 

"No stop" — he answered, when questioned again on the 
subject; "time go. Canoe ready — gun loaded — warrior counted 
— chief woke up — council-fire gone out. Time, go." 

"Well then, Corny," said Guert, rising and stretching his 
fine frame like a lion roused from his lair, " here's off. We 
can go to Ravensnest to sleep, to-day ; and to-morrow we will 
work our way out into the highway, and fall into the line of 
march of the army. I shall have another opportunity of seeing 
Mary Wallace, and of telling her hoAv much I love her. That 
will be so much gained, at all events." 

"No see squaw — no go to Nest!" said the Indian, with 
energy. "War-path i/t/5 way," pointing in a direction that 
might have varied a quarter of a circle from that to Herman 
Mordaunt's settlement. " Bad for warrior to see squaw when 
he dig up hatchet — only make woman of him. No ; go this 
way — path there — no here — scalp there — squaw here." 

As the gestures of the Onondago were quite as significant as 
his language, we had no difficulty in understanding liim. Guert 
continued his questions, however, Avhile dressing, and we all soon 
became convinced by the words of the Indian, broken and 
abrupt as they were, that Abercrombie was on the point of 
embarking with his army on Lake George, and that we must 



356 SATAN STOE. 

needs be active, if we intended to be present at the contemplated 
operations in front of Ticonderoga. 

Our decision was soon reached, and our preparations made. 
By packing and shouldering his knapsack, and arming himself, 
each man would be ready ; though a short delay grew out of 
the absence of Traverse and his chain-bearers. We wrote a 
letter, hoAvever, explaining the reason of our intended absence, 
promising to return as soon as the operations in front of Ty 
should be terminated. This letter we left with Pete, who was 
to remain, as cook, though Jaap bestirred himself, loaded his 
broad shoulders with certain indispensables for our march, took 
his rifle, pack and horn, and was ready to move as soon as any 
of us. All this the fellow did, moreover, without orders ; deem- 
ing it a part of his duty to follow his young master, even if he 
followed him to evil. No dog, indeed, could be truer in this 
particular, than Jaap or Jacob Satanstoe, for he had adopted 
the name of the Neck as his patronymic ; much as the nobles 
of other regions style themselves after their lands. 

When all was ready and Ave Avcrc on the point of quitting the 
hut, the question arose seriously, whether we were to go by 
Kavensnest, or by the new route that the Onondago had men- 
tioned. Path there was not, in either direction ; but we had 
lajidmarks, springs, and other known signs on the former; 
while of the latter we literally knew nothing. Then Anneke 
and Mary Wallace, with their bright, blooming, sunny faces — 
bright and happy whenever Ave appeared, most certainly, of 
late — were in the former direction, and even Dirck cried out 
"for Eavensnest." But on that route, the Onondago refused 
to stir one foot. He stood, resembling a finger-post, pointing 
north-Avesterly, with an immovable obstinacy that threatened to 
bring the order of our march into some confusion. 

" We knoAV nothing of that route. Trackless," Guert observed, 
or rather replied, for the Indian's manner was so expressive as 
to amount to a remark, " and Ave would rather travel a road 
Avith Avhich avc are a little acquainted. Besides, we Avish to 
pay our parting compliments to the ladies." 



SATANSTOE. 357 

" Squaw no good, now — war-path no go to squaw. Huron 
— Frencli warrior, here." 

" Ay, and they are there, too. We shall be on their heels 
soon enough, by going to Eavensnest." 

" No soon 'nough — can't do him. Path long, time short. 
Pale-face warrior in great hurry." 

"Pale-face warriors' friends are in a hurry, too — so you will 
do well to follow us, as we do not intend to follow you. Come, 
gentlemen, we will lead the Indian, as the Indian does not seem 
disposed to lead us. After a mile or two he will think it more 
honorable to go in advance ; and for that distance, I believe I 
can show you the way." 

" That road good for young men who don't want sec enemy 1" 
said Susquesus, with ironical point. 

" By St. Nicholas ! Indian, what do you mean ?" cried 
Guert, turning short on his heels and moving swiftly toward 
the Onondago, who did not wait for the menacing blow, but 
wheeled in his tracks and led off at a quick pace, directly 
toward the north-west. 

I do believe that Guert pursued, for the first minute, with no 
other intention than that of laying his powerful arm on the 
ofiender's shoulder ; but I dropped in on his footsteps so soon, 
Dirck following me and Jaap Dirck, that we were all moving 
off Indian file, or in the fashion of the woods, at the rate of 
four miles in the hour, almost before we knew it. An impulse 
of that angry nature is not over in a minute, and before either 
of us had sufficiently cooled to be entirely reasonable, the whole 
party were fairly out of sight of the hut. After that no one 
appeared to think of the necessity or of the expediency of 
reverting to the original intention. It was certainly indiscreet, 
thus to confide absolutely in the good faith of a savage, or a 
semi-savage, at least, whom we scarcely knew, and whom we 
had actually distrusted ; but we did it, and precisely in the 
manner and under the feeUngs I have described. I know that 
we all thought of the indiscretion of which wc had been guilty, 
after the first mile ; but each was too proud to make the other 



358 SATANSTOK. 

acquainted with his misgivings. I say all, but J.iap ought to be 
excepted, for nothing in the shape of danger ever gave that 
negro any concern, unless it was *' spooks." He tvas afraid of 
spooks, but he did not fear man. 

Susquesus manifested the same confidence in his knowledge 
of the woods, while now leading the way league after league 
through the dark forest, as he had done when he took us to the 
oak with the broken top. On this occasion, he guided us more 
by the sun and the course generally, than by any acquaintance 
with objects that we passed; though three times that day did 
he point out to us particular things that he had before seen 
while traversing the woods in directions that crossed, at angles 
more or less oblique, the line of our present route. As for us, 
it was like a sailor's pointing to a path on the trackless ocean. 
We had our pocket-compasses, it is true, and understood well 
enough that a north-west course would bring us out somewhere 
near the foot of Lake George ; but I much doubt if we could 
have made by any means as direct a line, by their aid, as wc 
did by that of the Indian. 

On this subject we had a discussion among ourselves, I well 
remember, when we halted to eat and rest, a little after the turn 
of the day. For five hours had we walked wdth great rapidity, 
much as the bird flies, so fer as course was concerned, never 
turning aside unless it mightbe to avoid some impassable obstacle ; 
and our calculation was that Ave had made quite twenty of the forty 
miles we had to go over, according to the Onondago's account 
of the probable length of our journey. We had strung our 
sinews and hardened our muscles in such a way as to place 
us above the influence of common fatigue ; yet it must be con- 
fessed the Indian w^as much the freshest of the five when we 
reached the spring where we dined. 

"An Indian does seem to have a nose much like that of a 
hound," said Guert, as our appetites began to be appeased; 
" that must be admitted. Yet I think. Corny, a compass would 
carry a man through the woods with more certainty than any 
signs on the bark of trees, or looks at the sun." 



3ATANSTOE. 350 

" A compass cannot err, of course ; but it would be a troub- 
lesome tiling to be stopping every minute or two to look at 
your compass, wbicla must have time to become steady, you 
will remembei*, or it would become a guide that is worse tlian 
none." 

"Every minute or two! Say once in an hour, or once in 
half an hour, at most. I would engage to travel as straight as 
the best Indian of them all, by looking at my compass once in 
half an hour." 

Susquesus was seated near enough to us three to overhear our 
conversation, and he understood English perfectly, though he 
spoke it in the usual clipped manner of an Indian. I thought 
I could detect a covert gleam of contempt in his dark counte- 
nance, at this boast of Guert's ; but he made no remark. We 
finished our meal, rested our legs, and when our watches told 
us it was one o'clock, we rose in a body to resume our march. 
AVe were renewing the priming of our rifles, a precaution each 
man took twice every day to prevent the effects of the damps of 
the Avoods, when the Onondago quietly fell in behind Guert, 
patiently waiting the leisure of the latter. 

"We are all ready, Ti'ackless," cried the Albanian; "give 
us the lead and the step as before." 

" No," answered the Indian. " Compass lead now ; Susque- 
sus no see any longer — blind as young dog." 

"Oh ! that is your game, is it? Well, let it be so. Now, 
Corny, you shall learn the virtue there is in a compass." 

Ilereupon Guert drew his compass from a pocket in his 
hunting-shirt, placed it on a log in order to get a perfectly 
accurate start, and waited until the quivering needle had become 
perfectly stationary. Then he made his observation, and took 
a large hemlock, which stood at the distance of some twenty 
rods, a gceat distance for a sight in the forest, as his landmark, 
gave a shout, caught up his compass and led off. We followed 
of course, and soon reached the tree. As Guert now fancied he 
was well entered on the right course, he disdained to turn to re- 
uew his observation, but called out for us to "come on," as he had 



3G0 SATANSTOE. 

a new tree for Lis guide, and tliat in the true direction. We may 
have proceeded in this manner for half a mile^ and I began to 
think that Gucrt was about to triumph — for to me it did really 
seem that our course was as straight as it had been at any time 
that day. Guert now began to brag of his success, talking to 
me and at the Indian, who was between us, over his shoulder. 

" You see, Corny," he said, " I am used to the bush, after 
all, and have often been up among the Mohawks, and on their 
hunts. The great point is to begin right ; after which you can 
have no great trouble. Make certain of the first ten rods, and 
you can be at case about the ten thousand that are to follow. 
So it is with life, Corny, boy ; begin right, and a young man 
is pretty certain of coming out right. I made a mistake at 
the start, and you see the trouble it has given me. But I was 
left an orphan, Littlepage, at ten years of age ; and the boy 
that has neither father nor money, must be an uncommon boy 
not to kick himself out of the traces before he is twenty. 
Well, Onondago, what do you say to following the compass, 
now ?" 

" Best look at him — he tell," answered Susqucsus, our whole 
line halting to let Guert comply. 

"This d d compass will never come round !" exclaimed 

Guert, shaking the little instrument in order to help the needle 
round to the point at which he wished to see it stand. " These 
little devils are very apt to get out of order. Corny, after alll" 

"Try more — got three," said the Indian, holding up the 
number of fingers he mentioned, as was his wont when mention- 
ing numbers of any sort. 

On this hint, Dirck and I drew out our compasses, and the 
three were placed on a log, at the side of which we had come 
to our halt. The result showed that the three "little devils" 
agreed most accurately, and that we were marching exactly 
south-east, instead of north-west ! Guert looked on that occa- 
sion, very much as he did when he rose from the snow after the 
hand-sled had upset with us. There w^as no resisting the truth ; 
we had got turned completely round, v.ithout knowing it. The 



SATANSTOE. 361 

fact that the sun was so near the zenith probably contributed to 
our mistake ; but any one who has tried the experiment, will 
soon ascertain how easy it is for him to lose his direction be- 
neath the obscurity and amid the inequalities of a virgin forest. 
Guert gave it up like a man as he was, and the Indian again 
passed in front without the slightest manifestation of triumph 
or discontent. It required nothing less than a thunderbolt to 
disturb the composure of that Onondago 1 

From that moment our progress was as swift as it had been 
previously to the halt, while our course was seemingly as un- 
erring as the flight of the pigeon. Susquesus did not steer 
exactly north-west, as before, however, but he inclined more 
northerly. At length, it was just as the sun approached the 
summits of the western mountains, an opening appeared in our 
front beneath the arches of the wood, and we knew that a lake 
was near us, and that we were on the summit of high land, 
though at what precise elevation could not yet be told. Our 
route had lain across hills and through valleys, and along small 
streams ; though as I afterward ascertained, the Hudson did not 
run far enough north to intercept our march, or rather, by a 
sudden turn to the west, it left our course clear. Had we in- 
cUned westwardly ourselves, we might have almost done that 
which Colonel FoUock had once laughingly recommended to my 
mother in order to avoid the dangers of the Powles Hook FeiTy 
— gone round the river. 

A clearing now showed itself a little on our right; and thither 
the Indian held his way. This clearing was not the result of 
the labors of man, but was the fruit of one of those forest acci- 
dents that sometimes let in the light of the sun upon the mys- 
teries of the woods. This clearing was on the bald cap of a 
rocky mountain, where Indians had doubtless often encamped ; 
the vestiges of their fires proving that the winds had been 
assisted by the sister element in clearing away the few stunted 
trees that had once grown in the fissures of the rocks. As it 
was, there might have been an open space of some two or three 
acres, that was now as naked as if it had never known any 
16 



3G2 SATANSTOE. 

vegetation more ambitious than tlie bush of the whortlebeiTy 
or the honeysuckle. Delicious water was spouting from a 
higher ridge of the rocks, that led away northerly, forming the 
sninniit of an extensive range in that direction. At this spring 
Susquesus stooped to drink ; then he announced that our day's 
work was done. 

Until this announcement, I do not believe that one of us all 
had taken the time to look about him, so earnest and rapid had 
been our march. Now, however, each man threw aside his 
pack, laid down his rifle, and thus disencumbered, we turned 
to gaze on one of the most surprisingly beautiful scenes eye of 
mine had ever beheld. 

From what I have read and heard, I am now fully aware 
that the grandest of our American scenery falls far behind that 
which is to be found among the lakes and precipices of the Alps, 
and along the almost miraculous coast of the Mediterranean ; 
and I shall not pretend that the view I now beheld, approached 
in magnificence many that are to be met with in those magic 
regions. Nevertheless, it was both grand and soft ; and it had 
one element of vastness in the gi-een mantle of its interminable 
woods, that is not often to be met with in countries that have 
long submitted to the sway of man. Such as it was, I shall 
endeavor to describe it. 

Beneath us, at the distance of near a thousand feet, lay a 
lake of the most limpid and placid water, that was beautifully 
diversified in shape, by means of bluffs, bays and curvatures of 
the shores, and which had an extent of near forty miles. We 
were on its eastern margin, and about one-third of the distance 
from its southern to its northern end. Countless islands lay 
almost under our feet, rendering the mixture of land and water 
at that particular point, as various and fanciful as the human 
imagination could desire. To the north, the placid sheet ex- 
tended a great distance, bounded by rocky precipices, passing 
by a narrow gorge into a wider and larger estuary beyond. To 
the south, the water lay expanded to its oval termination, with 
here and there an island to relieve the surface. In that dircc 



SATANSTOE. 363 

ion only were any of the results of liuman industry to be tisaced. 
Everywliere else tlio gorges, the receding valleys, tlie long 
ranges of liills, and the bald caps of gi-anite, presented nothing 
to the eye but the unwearying charms of nature. Far as the 
eye could reach, mountain behind mountain, the earth was cov- 
ered with its green mantle of luxuriant leaves, such as vegetation 
bestows on a virgin soil beneath a beneficent sun. The rolling 
and variegated carpet of the earth resembled a finnament re- 
versed, with clouds composed of foliage. 

At the southern termination of the lake, however, there was 
an opening in the forest of considerable extent ; and one that 
had been so thoroughly made as to leave few or no trees. From 
this point we were distant several miles, and that distance 
necessarily rendered objects indistinct; though we had little 
difficulty in perceiving the ruins of extensive fortifications. 
A thousand white specks we now ascertained to be tents, for the 
works were all that remained of Fort William Henry, and there 
lay encamped the army of Abercrombie ; much the largest force 
that had then ever collected in America, under the colors of 
England. History has since informed us that this army con- 
tained the formidable number of sixteen thousand men. Hun- 
dreds of boats, large batteaux, that were capable of carrying 
forty or fifty men, were moving about in front of the encampment, 
and, remote as we were, it was not impossible to discover the 
signs of preparation, and of an early movement. The Indian 
had not deceived us thus far, at least, but had shown himself 
an intelligent judge of what was going on as well as a faithful 
guide. 

We were to pass the night on the mountain. Our beds Avere 
none of the best, as the reader may suppose, and our cover 
slight; yet I do not remember to have opened my eyes from 
the moment they were closed, until I awoke in the morning. 
The fatigue of a forced march did that for us which down can- 
not obtain for the voluptuary, and we all slept as profoundly as 
children. Consciousness returned to me, by means of a gentle 
shake of the shoulder, which proceeded from Susquesus. On 



3G4 SATANSTOE. 

arising, I found the Indian still near me, his countenance, for 
the fii-st time since I had known him, expressing something 
like an animated pleasure. He had awoke none of the others, 
and he signed for me to follow him, without arousing either of 
my companions. Why I had been thus particularly selected 
for the scene that succeeded, I cannot say, unless the Onon- 
dago's native sagacity had taught him to distinguish between 
the educations and feelings of us three young men. So it was, 
however, and I left the rude shelter we had prepared for the 
night, alone. 

A glorious sight awaited me ! The sun had just tipped the 
mountain-tops with gold, while the lake and the valleys, the 
hill-sides even, and the entire world beneath, still reposed in 
shadow. It appeared to me like the awakening of created 
things from the sleep of nature. For a moment or more, I 
could only gaze on the wonderful picture presented by the 
strong contrast between the golden hill-tops and their shadowed 
sides — the promises of day and the vestiges of night. But the 
Onondago was too much engrossed with his own feelings, to 
suffer me long to disregard what he conceived to be the princi- 
pal point of interest. Directed by his finger and eye, for he 
spoke not, I turned my look toward the distant shore of 
William Henry, and at once perceived the cause of his unusual 
excitement. As soon as the Indian was certain that I saw the 
objects that attracted himself so strongly, he exclaimed with a 
strong, guttural, emphatic cadence — 

"Good!" 

Abercrombie's army was actually in motion ! Sixteen thou- 
sand men had embarked in boats, and were moving toward the 
northern end of the lake, with imposing force, and a most 
beautiful accuracy. The unruffled surface of the lake was dotted 
with the flotilla, boats in hundreds stretching across it in long, 
dark lines, moving on toward their point of destination with 
the method and concert of an army with its wings displayed. 
The last brigade of boats had just left the shore when I first 
saw this striking spectacle, and the whole picture lay spread 



SATANSTOE. 365 

before me at a single glance. America liad never before wit- 
nessed sucli a sight ; and it may be long before sbe will again 
witness such another. For several minutes I stood entranced ; 
nor did I speak until the rays of the sun had penetrated the 
dusky light that lay on the inferior world, as low as the base? 
of the western mountains. 

" What are we to do, Susquesus ?" I then asked, feeling how 
much right the Indian now might justly claim to govern our 
movements. 

"Eat breakfast first" — the Onondago quietly replied ; "then 
go down mountain." 

" Neither of which will place us in the midst of that gallant 
army, as it is our wish to be." 

" See, bye' m by. Injin know — no hurry now. Hurry, come 
when Frenchman shoot." 

I did not like this speech, nor the manner in which it was 
uttered ; but there were too many things to think of just then, 
to be long occupied by vague conjecture, touching the Onon- 
dago's evasive allusions. Guert and Dirck were called, and 
made to share in the pleasure that such a sight could not fail 
to communicate. Then I got the first notion of what I should 
call the truly martial character of Ten Eyck. His fine, manly 
figure appeared to me to enlarge, his countenance actually be- 
came illuminated, and the expression of his eye, usually so full 
of good-nature and fun, seemed to change its nature entirely, 
to one of sternness and severity. 

"This is a noble sight, Mr. Littlepage," Guert remarked, 
after gazing at the measured but quick movement of the flotilla 
for some time in silence — "a truly noble sight, and it is a 
reproach to us three for having lost so much time in the woods, 
when we ought to have been there, ready to aid in driving the 
French from the province." 

"We are not too late, my good friend, as the first blow yet 
remains to be struck." 

"You say true, and I shall join that anny, if I have to swim 
to reach the boats. It will be no difficult thino: for us to swim 



366 SATANSTOE. 

from one of those islands to anotlicr, and tlie troops must pass 
tliroujxh the midst of tlicm in order to ffct into tlio lower lake. 
Any reasonable man would stop to pick us up." 

"No need," said the Onondago, in his quiet way. "Eat 
breakfast ; then go. Got canoe — that 'nough. 

"A canoe ! By St. Nicholas! Mr. Susquesus, I'll tell you 
what it is — you shall never want a friend as long as Guert Ten 
Eyck is living, and able to assist you. That idea of the canoe 
is a most thoughtful one, and shows that a reasoning man has 
had the care of us. We can now join the troops with the rifles 
in our hand, as becomes gentlemen and volunteers." 

By this time Jaap was up, and looking at the scene with all 
his eyes. It is scarcely necessary to describe the effect on a 
negro. lie laughed in fits, shook his head like the Chinese 
figure of a mandarin, rolled over on the rocks, arose, shook him- 
self like a dog that quits the water, laughed again, and finally 
shouted. As we were all accustomed to these displays of negro 
sensibility, they only excited a smile among us, and not even 
that from Dirck. As for the Indian, he took no more notice 
of these natural, but undignified signs of pleasure in Jaap, than 
if the latter had been a dog, or any other unintellectual animal. 
Perhaps no weakness would be so likely to excite his contempt, 
as to be a witness of so complete an absence of self-command, 
as the untutored negro manifested on this occasion. 

As soon as our first curiosity and interest were a little abated, 
we applied ourselves to the necessary duty of breaking our 
fasts. The meal was soon dispatched ; and, to say the truth, it 
was not of a quality to detain one long from any thing of 
interest. The moment we had finished, the whole party left 
the cap of the mountain, following our guide as usual. 

The Onondago had purposely brought us to that look-out, a 
spot known to him, in order that we might get the view of its 
panorama. It was impossible to descend to the lake-shore at 
that spot, however, and we were obliged to make a detour of 
three or four miles, in order to reach a ravine, by means of 
which, and not without difficulty cither, that important object 



H A T A K i: T O K . 0G1 

was obtainotl. Ilcrc v,c found a bark canoe, of a size sufEcient 
to hold all five of us, and we embarked without a moment's 
delay. 

The wind had sprung up from the south, as the day advanced, 
and the flotilla of boats was coming on, at a greatly increased 
rate, as to speed. By the time we had threaded our way through 
the islands, and reached the main channel, if indeed any one 
passage could be so termed, among such a variety, the leading 
boat of the army was within hail. The Indian paddled, and 
waving his hand in sign of amity, he soon brought us alongside 
of the batteau. As we approached it, however, I observed the 
fine, large form of the Viscount Howe, standing erect in its 
bows, dressed in Ms light infantry forest uniform, as if eager 
to be literally the foremost man of a movement, in the success 
of which the honor of the British empire itself was felt to bo 
concerned. 




z^jM/^U/^, 



308 BATANSTOE. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

"My sons? It may 
Unman my heart, and the poor boys will weep ; 
And what can I reply, to comfort them, 
Save with some hollow hopes, and ill-worn smiles?" 

SARDANAPALire. 

Mr Lord Howe did not at first recognize lis, in our Imntlng- 
sliirts. AVitli Guert Ten Eyck, however, lie liad formed such 
an acquaintance, while at Albany, as caused him to remember 
his voice, and our welcome was both frant and cordial. We 

inquired for the th, declaring our intention to join that 

corps, from the commander of which all three of us had 
reiterated and pressing invitations to join his mess. The in- 
tention of seeking our friend immediately, nevertheless was 
changed by a remark of our present host, if one may use such a 
term as applied to the commander of a brigade of boats. 

" Bulstrode's regiment is in the centre, and will be early in 
the field," te said ; " but not as early as the advanced guard. 
If you desire good living, gentlemen, I am far from wishing to 

dissuade you from seeking the flesh-pots of the th ; there 

being a certain Mr. Billings in that corps, who has an extraor- 
dinary faculty, they tell me, in getting up a good dinner out 
of nothing ; but if you want service, we shall certainly be the 
first brigade in action ; and, to such fare as I can command, 
you will be most acceptable guests. As for any thing else, 
time must show." 

After this, no more was said about looking for Bulstrode ; 
though we let our noble commander understand, that we should 
tax his hospitality no longer than to see him fairly in the field, 
after driving away the party that it was expected the enemy 
would send to oppose our landing. 



SATANSTOE. 369 

Susquesus no sooner learned our decision, than lie took his 
departure, quietly paddling away toward the eastern shore ; no 
one attempting to intercept a canoe that was seen to quit the 
batteau that was known to carry the commander of the advanced 
brigade. 

The wind freshened, as the day advanced, and most of the 
boats having something or other in the shape of a sail, our prog- 
ress now became quite rapid. By nine o'clock we were fairly 
in the lower lake, and there was every prospect of our reaching 
our point of destination by mid-day. I confess, the business 
we were on, the novelty of my situation, and the certainty that 
we should meet in Montcalm an exjjerienced as well as a most 
gallant foe, conspired to render me thoughtful, though I trust 
not timid during the few hours we were in the batteau. Per- 
fectly inactive, it is not surprising that so young a soldier should 
feel sobered by the solemn reflections that are apt to get pos- 
session of the mind, at the probable approach of death — if not 
to myself, at least to many of those who were around me. Nor 
was there any thing boastful or inflated in the manner or con- 
versation of our distinguished leader, who had seen much warm 
service in Germany, in the wars of his reputed grandfather and 
uncle, young as he was. On the contrary, my lord Howe 
that day was grave and thoughtful, as became a man who held 
the lives of others in his keeping, though he was neither de- 
pressed nor doubting. There were moments, indeed, when 
he spoke cheerfully to those who were near him ; though, as 
a whole, his deportment was, as I have just said, grave and 
thoughtful. Once I caught his eye fastened on me, with 
a saddened expression ; and, I suppose that a question he 
soon after put to me, was connected with the subject of his 
thoughts. 

" How would our excellent and respectable friend Madam 
Schuyler feel, did she know our precise position at this mo- 
ment, Mr. Littlepage ? I do believe that excellent woman feels 
more concern for those in whom she takes an interest, than 
they often feel for themselves.' 



370 SATANSTOE. 

" I iLink, my lord, that Id sucli a case wc sliall certainly re- 
ceive the benefit of her prayers." 

" You arc an only child, I think she told me, Littlcpage?" 

" I am, my lord ; and thankful am I that my mother cannot 
foresee this scene." 

" I too have those that love me, though they arc accustomed 
to think of me as a soldier, and liable to a soldier's risks. Hap- 
py is the military man who can possess his mind in the moment 
of trial, free from the embarrassing, though j^lcasing, and other- 
wise so grateful tics of affection. But avc arc nearing the shore 
and must attend to duty." 

This is the last conversation I held with that brave soldier ; 
and these were the last words of a private nature I ever heard 
him utter. From that moment his whole soul seemed occupied 
with the discharge- of his duty, the success of our arms, and the 
defeat of the enemy. 

I am not soldier enough to describe what followed, in a very 
military or intelligible manner. As the brigade drew near the 
loot of the lake, where there was a wide extent of low land, 
principally in forest, however, some battcaux were brought to 
the front, on which were mounted a number of pieces of heavy 
artillery. The French had a party of considerable force to op- 
j^ose our landing ; but as it appeared, they had not made a 
sufficient provision of guns on their part, to contend with suc- 
cess ; and our grape scouring the woods, we met with but little 
real resistance. Nor did we assail them precisely at the point 
where we were expected, but proceeded rather to the right of 
their position. At the signal, the advanced brigade pushed for 
the shore, led by our gallant commander, and we were all soon 
on terra firma, without sustaining any loss worth naming. We 
four, that is, Guert, Dirck, myself and Jaap, kept as near as was 
proper to the noble brigadier, who instantly ordered an advance 
to press the retreating foe. The skirmishing was not sharp, 
however, and we gained ground fast, the en-emy retiring in the 
direction of Ticondcroga, and we pressing on their rear quite as 
^ast as prudence and our preparations would allow. I could see 



SATANSTOE. 371 

that a cloud of Indians were in our front, and will own that I 
felt afraid of an ambusli ; for tlie artful warfare practised by 
those beings of the wood, could not but be familiar, by tradition 
at least, to one born and educated in the colonies. We had 
landed in a cove, not literally at the foot of the lake, but rather 
on its western side ; and room was no sooner obtained, than 
General Abercrombie got most of his force on shore, and formed 
it as speedily as possible, in columns. Of these columns wi 
had four, the two in the centre being composed entirely of 
king's troops, six regiments in all, numbering more than as 
many thousand men ; while five thousand provincials were on 
the flanks, leaving quite four thousand of the latter with the 
boats, of which this vast flotilla actually contained the large 
number of one thousand and twenty-five ! All our boats, how- 
ever, had not reached the point of debarkation ; those with the 
stores, artillery, etc., etc., being still some distance in the rear. 

Our party was now placed with the right centre column, at 
the head of which marched our noble acquaintance. The ene- 
my had posted a single battalion in a log encampment, near 
the ordinary landing; but finding the character of the force 
with which he was about to be assailed, its commandant set fire 
to the huts and retreated. The skirmishing was now even of 
less moment than it had been on landing, and we moved for- 
ward in high spirits, though the want of guides, the density of 
the woods, and the difiiculties of the ground, soon produced a 
certain degree of confusion in our march. The columns got 
entangled with each other, and no one seemed to possess the 
means of promptly extricating them from this awkward embar- 
rassment. Want of guides was the great evil under which we 
labored; but it was an e\il that it was now too late to remedy. 

Our column, notwithstanding, or its head rather, continued 
to advance, with its gallant leader keeping even pace with its 
foremost platoon. We four volunteers acted as look-outs, a 
little on its flank ; and I trust there will be no boasting, if I say, 
we kept rather in advance of the leading files, tlian otherwise. 
Inthis state of things, French uniforms were seen in front, and a 



372 SATANSTOE. 

pretty strong party of tlie enemy were encountered, wandering, 
like ourselves, a little uncertain of tlie route tliey ought to take 
in order to rcacli their intrenchments in the shortest time. As 
a matter of course, this party could not pass the head of our 
column without bringing on a collision, though it were one 
that was only momentary. Which party gave the first fire, I 
cannot say, though I thought it was the French. The discharge 
was not heavy, however, and was almost immediately mutual. 
I know that all four of us let off our rifles, and that we halted, 
under a cover, to reload. I had just driven the ball down, 
when my eye caught the signs of some confusion in the head 
of the column, and I saw the body of an officer borne to the 
rear. It was that of Lord Howe ! lie had fallen at the first 
serious discharge made by the enemy in that campaign ! The 
fall of its leader, so immediately in its presence, seemed to 
rouse the column into a sense of the necessity of doing some- 
thing eficctive, and it assaulted the party in its front with the 
rage of so many tigers, dispersing the enemy like chaff; mak- 
ing a considerable number of prisoners, besides killing and 
wounding not a few. 

I never saw a man more thoroughly aroased than was Gucrt 
Ten Eyck, in this little affair. He had been much noticed by 
Lord Howe, during the residence of that unfortunate nobleman 
at Albany ; and the loss of the last appeared to awaken all that 
there was of the ferocious in the nature of my usually kind- 
hearted Albany friend. He acted as our immediate command- 
er ; and he led us forward on the heels of the retreating French, 
until we actually came in sight of their intrenchments. Then, 
indeed, we all saw it was necessary to retreat in our turn ; and 
Guert consented to fall back, though it was done surlily, and 
like a lion at bay. A party of Indians pressed us hard, in this 
retreat, and we ran an imminent risk of our scalps ; all of 
which I have ever believed would have been lost, were it not 
for the resolution and Herculean strength of Jaap. It happened, 
as we were dodging from tree to tree, that all four of our rifles 
were discharged at tlie same time ; a circumstance of which 



SATANSTOE. 373 

our assailants availed themselves to make a rusli at us. Luckily 
the weight of the onset fell on Jaap, who clubbed his rifle, 
and literally knocked down in succession the three Indians 
that first reached him. This intrepidity and success gave us 
time to reload ; and Dirck, ever a cool and capital shot, laid 
the fourth Huron on his face, with a ball through his heart. 
Guert then held his fire, and called on Jaap to retreat. He 
was obeyed ; and under cover of our two rifles, the whole 
party got off; the red-skins being too thoroughly rebuked to 
press us very closely, after the specimen they had just received 
of the stuff of which we were made. 

We owed our escape, however, as much to another circum- 
stance, as to this resolution of Jaap, and the expedient of Guert. 
Among the provincials was a partisan of great repute, of the 
name of Rogers. This ofiiccr led a party of riflemen on our 
left flank, and he drove in the enemy's skirmishers, along his 
own front, with rapidity, causing them to suffer a considerable 
loss. By this means, the Indians before us were held in check ; 
as- there was the danger that Major Rogers's party might fall in 
upon their rear, should they attempt to pursue us, and thus cut 
them off from their allies. It was well it was so ; inasmuch as 
we had to fall back more than a mile, ere we reached the spot 
where Abercrombie brought his columns to a halt, and encamped 
for the night. This position was distant about two miles from 
the works before Ticonderoga ; and consequently at no great 
distance from the outlet of Lake George. Here the army was 
brought into good order, and took up its station for some little 
time. 

It was necessary to await the arrival of the stores, ammuni- 
tion and artillery. As the bringing up these materials, through 
a country that was little else than a virgin forest, was no easy 
task, it occupied us quite two days. Melancholy days they 
were too ; the death of Lord Howe acting on the whole army 
much as if it had been a defeat. He was the idol of the king's 
troops, and he had rendered himself as popular with us Amer- 
icans as with his own countrymen. A sort of ominous sadness 



374 SATANSTOE. 

prevailed among us, each common man appearing to foel Li^ 
loss as lie miglit have felt that of a brother. 

We looked up the th, and joined Bulstrode, as soon as 

wc reached the ground chosen for the new encampment. Our 
reception was friendly, and even kind ; and it became warmer 
still, as soon as it was understood that we composed the little 
party that had skirmished so freely on the flank of the right 
centre column, and which Avas known to have gone farther in 
advance^than any one else, in that part of the field. Thus we 
joined our corps with some eclat, at the very outset, every body 
welcoming us cordially, and with seeming sincerity. 

Nevertheless, the general sadness existed in the th, as 

well as in all the other corps. Lord Howe was as much beloved 
in that regiment, as in any other ; and our meeting and subse- 
quent intercourse could not be called joyful. Bulstrode had an 
extensive and im2")ortant command for his rank and yeax's, and 
he certainly Avas proud of his position ; but I could see that 
even his clastic and usually gay temperament was much affect- 
ed by what had occurred. That night wc walked together, 
apart from our companions, when he spoke on the subject of 
our loss. 

*' It may appear strange to you, Corny," he said, "to find 
so much depression in camp, after a debarkation that has cer- 
tainly been successful, and a little affair that has given us, as 
they assure me, a couple of hundred prisoners. I tell you, 
however, my friend, it were better for this army to have seen 
its best corps annihilated, than to have lost the man it has. 
Howe Avas literally the soul of this entire force. He Avas a 
soldier by nature, and made all around him soldiers. As for 
the commander-in-chief, he does not understand you Americans, 
and Avill not use you as he ought ; then he does not understand 
the nature of the warfare of this continent, and will be very 
likely to make a blunder. I'll tell you how it is, Corny ; Howe 
had as much influence with Abercrombie, as he had Avith every 
one else ; and an attempt will be made to introduce his mode of 
fighting ; but such a man as Lord Howe requires another Lord 



SATANSTOE. Sl5 

llowc to carry out liis own conceptions. That is tlic point on 
which I fear we shall fail." 

All this sounded very sensible to me, though it sounded dis- 
couragingly ; I found, however, that Bulstrode did not enter- 
tain these feelings alone, but that most around me were of the 
same way of thinking. In the mean time, the prcjDarations 
proceeded ; and it was understood that the 8th was to be the 
day that was to decide the fate of Ticonderoga. The fort pro- 
per, at this celebrated station, stands on a peninsula, and can 
only be assailed on one side. The outworks were very exten- 
sive on that side, and the garrison was known to be formidable. 
As these outworks, however, consisted principally of a log- 
breastwork, and it could be approached through open woods, 
which of itself afforded some cover, it was determined to carry 
it by storm, and, if possible, enter the main work with the 
retreating enemy. Had we waited for our artillery, and estab 
lishcd batteries, our success would have been certain ; but the 
engineer reported favorably of the other project ; and perhaps 
it better suited the temper and impatience of the whole army, 
to push on, rather than proceed by the slow movements of a 
regular siege. 

On the morning of the 8th, therefore, the troops were paraded 

for the assault, our party falling in on the flank of the th, 

as volunteers. The ground did not admit of the use of many 
horses, and Bulstrode marched with us on foot. I can relate 
but little of the general movements of that memorable day, 
the woods concealing so much of what was done on both sides. 
I know this, however ; that the flower of our army were brought 
into the line, and were foremost in the assault ; including both 
regulars and provincials. The 4 2d, a Highland corps that 
had awakened much interest in America, both by the appear- 
ance and character of its men, was placed at a point where it 
was thought the heaviest service was to be performed. The 
55th, another corps on which nmch reliance was placed, was 
also put at the head of another column. A swamp extend 
ing for SOI ic distance along the only exposed front of the 



376 SATANSTOE. 

peninsula, these two corps were designated to carry tLe log 
breastwork tliat commenced at tlie point where the swamp 
ceases — much the most arduous portion of the expected service, 
since this was the only accessible approach to the fortress itself. 
To render their position more secure, the French had placed 
several pieces of artillery in battery, along the line of this 
breastwork ; while we had not yet a gun in front to cover our 
advance. 

It was said, that Abercrombie did not take counsel of any 
of the American officers with him, before he decided on the 
attack of the 8th of July. He had directed his principal engi- 
neer to reconnoitre ; and that gentleman having reported that 
the defences offered no serious scientific obstacles, the assault 
was decided on. This report was accurate, doubtless, agreeably 
to the principles and fjicts of European warfare ; but it was not 
suited to those of the conflicts of this continent. It was to be 
regretted, however, that the experience of 1755, and the fate of 
Braddock, had not inculcated a more extensive lesson of discre- 
tion among the royal commanders, than was manifested by the 
incidents of this day. 

The th was placed in column directly in the rear of the 

Highlanders, who were led on this occasion by Colonel Gor- 
don Graham ; a veteran officer of great experience, and of an 
undaunted courage.* Of course, I saw this officer and this 
regiment, being, as they were, directly in my front, but I saw 
little else ; more especially after the smoke of the first discharge 
was added to the other obstacles to vision. 

A considerable time was consumed in making the prepara- 
tions ; but when every thing was supposed to be ready, the 
columns were set in motion. It was generally understood that 
the troops were to receive the enemy's fire, then rush forward 
to the breastwork, cross the latter at the bayonet's point, if it 

* Holmes's Annals says, that Lord John Murray commanded the 42d, on this oc- 
casion. I presume, as Mr. Littlepage was there, and was posted so near the corps in 
question, he cannot well be mistaken. Mrs. Grant, of Laggan, who was at Albany at 
the time, and whose father was in the battle, agrees with Mr. Littlepage, in saying that 
Gordon Graham led the 42d. — Editor. 



SATANSTOE. 



377 



should be necessary, and deliver tlieir own fire at close quarters; 
or on tlieir retreating foes. Permission was given to us volun- 
teers, and to divers liglit parties of irregulars, to open on any 
of the French of whom we might get glimpses, as little was 
expected from us in the charge. 

Nearly an hour was consumed in approaching the point of 
attack, owing to the diflSculties of the ground, and the necessity 
of making frequent halts, in order to dress. At length the im- 
portant moment arrived when the head of the column was 
ready to unmask itself, and consequently to come under fire. 
A short halt suflSced for the arrangements here, when the bag- 
pipes commenced their exciting music, and we broke out of 
cover, shouting and cheering each other on. We must have 
been within two hundred yards of the breastwork at the time, 
and the first gun discharged was Jaap's, who, by working his 
way into the cover of the swamp, had got some distance ahead 
of us, and who actually shot down a French oflScer who had got 
upon the logs of his defences, in order to reconnoitre. That 
assault, however, was fearfully avenged ! The Highlanders were 
moving on like a whirlwind, grave, silent and steady, cheered 
only by their music, when a sheet of flame glanced along the 
enemy's line, and the iron and leaden messengers of death came 
whistling in among us like a hurricane. The Scotsmen were 
staggered by that shock; but they recovered instantly and 

pressed forward. The th did not escape harmless, by any 

means ; while the din told us that the conflict extended along 
the whole of the breastwork, toward the lake-shore. How 
many were shot down in our column, by that first discharge, I 
never knew; but the slaughter was dreadful, and among those 
who fell was the veteran Graham himself. I can safely say, 
however, that the plan of attack was completely deranged from 
this first onset ; the columns displaying and commencing their 
fire as soon as possible. No men could have behaved better 
than all that I could see ; the whole of us pushing on for the 
breastwork, until we encountered fallen trees ; which were made 
to serve the purpose of chcvaux-dc-frisc. These trees had been 



378 SATANSTOE. 

felled along the front of tlie breastwork, -wlillc their l-ranchcs 
were cut, and pointed like stakes. It was impossible to pass in 
any order, and the troops halted when they reached them, and 
continued to fire by platoons, with as much regularity as on 
parade. A few minutes of this work, however, compelled dif- 
ferent corps to fall back, and the vain conflict was continued for 
four hours, on our part almost entirely by a smart but ineffec- 
tive fire of musketry ; while the French sent their grape into 
our ranks almost with as much impunity as if they had been on 
parade. It had been far better for our men had they been less 
disciplined, and less under the control of their officers ; for the 
sole effect of steadiness under such circumstances, is to leave 
the gallant and devoted troops who refuse to fall back, while 
they are unable to advance, only so much the longer in jeopardy. 

Guert had shouted with the rest, and I soon found that by 
following him for a leader, we should quickly be in the midst 
of the fray. He actually led us up to the fallen trees, and find- 
ing something like a cover there, we three established ourselves 
among them as riflemen, doing fully our share of service. When 
the troops fell back, however, we were left in a manner alone, 
and it was rather dangerous work to retire ; and finding our- 
selves out of the line of fire from our own men, no immaterial 
point in such a fray, we maintained our post to the last. Ad- 
monished, after a long time, of the necessity of retreating, by 
the manner in which the fire of our own line lessened, we got 
off with sound skins, though Guert retired the whole distance 
Avith his face to the enemy, firing as he withdrew. We all did 
the last, indeed, using the trees for covers. Toward the close 
we attracted especial attention ; and there were two or three 
minutes during which the flight of bullets around us might 
truly, without much exaggeration, be likened to a storm of 
hail! 

Jaap was not with us in this sally, and I wont into the swamp 
to look for him. The search was not long, for I found my fel- 
low retreating also, and bringing in with him a stout Canadian 
Indian as a prisoner. Ue was making his captive carry three 



SATAN ST OE, 



3T9 



disfliavgcd rifles, and blankets, one of Tslncli had been liis own 
property once, and the others that of two of his tribe, whom 
the negro had left lying in the swamp as bloody trophies of 
his exploits. I cannot explain the philosophy of the thing, 
but that negro ever appeared to me to fight as if he enjoyed 
the occupation as an amusement. 

These facts were scarcely ascertained, when we learned the 
important intelligence that a general retreat was ordered. Our 
proud and powerful army was beaten, and that too by a force 
two-thirds less than its own ! It is not easy to describe the 
miserable scene that followed. The transporting of the wounded 
to the rear had been going on the whole time ; and, as usually 
happens when it is permitted, it had contributed largely to 
thin the ranhs. These unfortunate men were put into the bat- 
teaux in hmidreds, while most of the dead Avere left where they 
lay. So completely were our hopes frustrated, and our spirits 
lowered, that most of the boats pulled off that night, and all 
the remainder quitted the foot of the lake early next day. 

Thus terminated the dire expedition of 1758 against Ticon- 
deroga, and with it our expectations of seeing Montreal or 
Quebec that season. I dare say we had fully ten thousand bay- 
onets in the field that bloody day, and quite five thousand men 
closely engaged. The mistake Avas in attempting to carry a 
post that was so nearly impregnable by assault, and this, too, 
without the cover of artillery. The enemy Avas said to have 
four or five thousand men present ; and this may be true as 
applied to all Avithin the defences, though I question if more 
than half that number pulled triggers on us in the miserable 
aft'air. There is always much of exaggeration in both the boast- 
ing and the apologies of war. 

Our own loss on this sad occasion Avas reported at 548 slain, 
and 1,356 wounded. This was probably Avithin the truth; 
though the missing Avere said to be surprisingly fcAV, some thirty 
or forty in all, the men having no place to repair to but the 
boats. Of the Highlanders, it Avas said that nearly half tho 
common men, and twenty-five or nearly all the officers Avcrc 



380 SATANSTOK. 

cither killed or wounded. One account, indeed, said that 
ever]/ officer of that corps who was on the ground suifcred. 
The 55th also was dreadfully cut up. Ten of its officers were 

slain outright and many were wounded. As for the th, it 

fared a little better, not heading a column ; but its loss was 
fearful. Bulstrode was seriously wounded early in the attack, 
though his hurt was never supposed to be dangerous. Billings 
was left dead on the field, and Harris got a scratch that served 
him to talk of in after-life. 

The confusion was tremendous after such a conflict and such 
a defeat. The troops re-embarked without much regard to 
corps or regularity of movement ; and the boats moved away 
as fast as they received their melancholy cargoes. An immense 
amount of property was lost, though I believe all the customary 
military trophies were preserved. As the provincials had been 
the least engaged, and had suftered much the least in propor- 
tion to numbers, a large body of them was kept as a rear-guard, 
while the regular corps removed their wounded and materiel. 

As for us three or four, including Jaap, who stuck by his 
prisoner, we scarcely knew what to do with ourselves. Every 
body who felt any interest in us was either killed or wounded. 
Bulstrode we could not see, nor could we even find the regi- 
ment. Should we succeed in the attempt at the last, very few 
now remained in it who would have taken much, or indeed any 
concern in us. Under the circumstances, therefore, we held a 
consultation on the lake-shore, uncertain whether to ask admis- 
sion into one of the departing boats, or to remain until morning 
that our retreat might have a more manly aspect. 

"I'll tell you what it is. Corny," said Guert Ten Eyck, in p. 
somewhat positive manner, "the less 2w say about this cam- 
paign, and of our share in it, the petter. "We are not soldiers 
in a regular way, and if we keep quiet, nobody will know what 
a t'rashing we free, in particular, haf receivet. My advice is, 
t'at we get out of this army as we got into it — t'at is, py a one 
sided movement, and forever after holt our tongues about our 
having had anyt'ing to do with it. I never knew a worsted 



SA TANS TOE. 381 

man any the more respected for his mishap; and I will own 
that I sot down flogging as a very material part of a fight." 

" I am quite sure, Guert, I am as little disposed to brag of 
my share in this afiair, as you or any one can possibly be ; but 
it is much easier to talk about getting away from this confused 
crowd than really to do the thing. I doubt if any of these 
boats will take us in ; for an Englishman, flogged, is not apt to 
be very good-natured ; and all our friends seem to be killed or 
wounded." 

" You want go?" asked a low Indian voice at my elbow. 
"Got'nough, eh?" 

Turning, I saw Susquesus standing within two feet of me. 
Our consultation was necessarily in the midst of a moving 
throng; and the Onondago must have approached us, unno- 
ticed, at the commencement of our conference. There he was, 
however, though whence he came or how he got there, I could 
not imagine at the time, and have never been able to learn 
since. 

" Can you help us to get away, Susquesus ?" was my answer. 
" Do you know of any means of crossing the lake ?" 

"Got canoe. That good. Canoe go, though Yengeeso 
run." 

" That in which we came ofi" to the army, do you mean ?" 

The Indian nodded his head, and made a sign for us to 
follow. Little persuasion was necessary, and we proceeded at 
his heels, in a body, in the direction he led. I will confess, 
that when I saw our guide proceeding eastward, along the lake- 
shore, I had some misgivings on the subject of his good faith. 
That was the direction which took us toward, instead oifrom the 
enemy ; and there was something so mysterious in the conduct 
of this man, that it gave me uneasiness. Here he was, in the 
midst of the English army in the height of its confusion, though 
he had declined joining it previously to the battle. Nothing 
was easier than to enter the throng, in its present confused 
state, and move about undetected for hours, if one had the 
nen'C necessary for the service ; and, in that property, I *felt 



382 SATANSTOE. 

certain the Onondago was not deficient. There was a coolness 
in the manner of the man, a quiet observation, both blended 
with the seeming apathy of a red-skin, that gave every assurance 
of his fitness for the duty. 

Nevertheless, there was no remedy but to follow, or to break 
with our guide on the spot. ■ "Wc did not like to do the last, 
although wc conferred together on the subject, but followed, 
keeping our hands on the locks of our rifles, in readiness for a 
brush, should we be led into danger. Susquesus had no such 
treacherous intentions, however, while he had disposed of his 
canoe in a place that denoted his judgment. We had to walk 
quite a mile ere we reached the little bush-fringed creek in 
which he had concealed it. I have always thought we ran a 
grave risk, in advancing so far in that direction, since the 
enemy's Indians would certainly be hanging around the skirts 
of our army, in quest of scalps; but I afterward learned the 
secret of the Onondago' s confidence, who first spoke on the 
subject after we had left the shore, and then only in an answer 
to a remark of Guert's. 

"No danger," he said; "red man gettin' Yengeese scalps 
on the war-path. Too much kill, now, to want more." 

As both governments pursued the culpable policy of paying 
for human scalps, this suggestion probably contained the whole 
truth. 

Previously to quitting the creek, however, there was a diffi- 
culty to dispose of. Jaap had brought his Huron prisoner with 
him ; and the Onondago declared that the canoe could not caiTv 
six. This we knew from experience, indeed, though five went 
in it very comfortably. 

"No room," said Susquesus, "for red man. Five good — 
six bad." 

"What shall we do with the fellow, Corny?" asked Guert, 
with a little interest. " Jaap says he is a proper devil, by day- 
light, and that he had a world of trouble in taking him, and in 
bringing him in. For five minutes, it was heads or tails which 
was to give in ; and the nigger only got the best of it, by his 



8ATANST0E. 3S3 

own account of the battle, because tlie red-skin had the unac- 
countable folly to try to beat in Jaap's brains. He might as 
well have battered the rock of Gibraltar, you know, as to at- 
tempt to break a nigger's skull, and so your felloAV got the best 
of it. What shall wc do with the rascal ?" 

" Take scalp," said the Onondago, sententiously ; " got good 
scalp — war lock ready — paint, war paint — capital scalp." 

"Ay, that may do better for you, Master Succetush" — so 
Guert always called our guide, " than it will do for us Chris- 
tians. I'm afraid we shall have to let the ravenous devil go, 
after disarming him." 

" Disarmed he is already ; but he cannot be long without a 
musket, on this battle-ground. I am of your opinion, Guert ; 
so, Jaap, release your prisoner at once, that wc may return to 
Ilavensnest as fast as possible." 

"Dat berry hard, Master Corny, sah!" exclaimed Jaap, who 
did not half like the orders he received. 

"No words about it, sir, but cut his fastening" — Jaaji had 
tied the Indian's arms behind him with a rope, as an easy mode 
of leading him along. " Do you know the man's name ?" 

"Yes, sah — he say he name be Muss" — probably Jaap's 
defective manner of repeating some Indian sound; "and a 
proper muss he get in, Masser Corny, when he try to cotch 
Jaap by he wool!" 

Ilere I was obliged to clap my hand suddenly on the black's 
mouth, for the fellow was so delighted with the recollection of 
the manner in which he had got the better of his red adversary, 
that he broke out into one of the uncontrollable fits of noisy 
laughter that are so common to his race. I repeated the order, 
Bomewhat sternly, for Jaap to cut the cords, and then to fol- 
low us to the canoe, in "which the Onondago and my two 
friends had already taken their places. My own foot was raised 
to enter the canoe, when I heard heavy stripes inflicted on the 
back of some one. Rushing back to the spot where I had left 
Jaap and his captive, Muss, I found the former inflicting a 
severe punishment on the naked back of the other, with the 



88-i SATAN STOfi. 

end of the cord that still bound liis arms. Muss, as Jaap called 
him, neither flinched nor cried. The pine stands not more 
erect or unyielding, in a summer's noontide, than he bore up 
under the pain. Indignantly I thrust the negro away, cut the 
fellow's bonds with my own hands, and drove my slave before 
me to the canoe. 



8ATANST0E. ^85 



CHAPTER XXrV. 

" Pule set the sun — the shades of evening fell, 
The mournful night-wind sung their funeral knell ; 
And the same day beheld their warriors dead, 
Their sovereign captive and their glory fled 1 " 

Mbs. Heuaks. 

I SHALL never forget the journey of tliat fearful night. Sus- 
quesus paddled the canoe, unaided by us, who were too much 
fatigued with the toil of the day to labor much, as soon as we 
found ourselves in a place of safety. Even Jaap lay down and 
slept for several hours, the sleep of the weary. I do not think 
any of us, however, actually slept for the first hour or two, the 
scenes through which we had just passed, and that, indeed, 
through which we were then passing, acting as preventives to 
such an indulgence. 

It must have been about nine in the evening, when our canoe 
quitted the ill-fated shore at the south end of Lake George, 
moving steadily and silently along the eastern margin of the 
sheet. By that time, fully five hundred boats had departed for 
the head of the lake, the retreat having commenced long before 
sunset. No order was observed in this melancholy procession, 
each batteau moving off as her load was completed. All the 
wounded were on the placid bosom of the "holy lake," as 
Bome writers have termed this sheet of limpid water, by the 
time we ourselves got in motion; and the sounds of parting 
boats told us that the unhurt were following as fast as circum- 
stances would allow. 

What a night it was ! There was no moon, and a veil of 
dark vapor was drawn across the vault of the heavens, con- 
cealing most of the mild summer stars, that ought to have been 
seen twinkling in their Creator's praise, Down between the 
17 



3S0 SATANSTOB. 

boundaries of hills, tliere Avas not a breatli of air, tbougli we 
occasionally heard the sighings of light currents among the 
tree-tops above us. The eastern shore having fewer sinuosities 
than the western, most of the boats followed its dark, frowning 
mass, as the nearest route, and we soon found ourselves near 
the line of the retiring batteaux. I call it the line, for though. 
there was no order observed, each party making the best of its 
way to the common point of destination, there were so many 
boats in motion at the same time, that, far as the eye could 
penetrate by that gloomy light, an unbroken succession of them 
was visible. Our motion was faster than that of these heavily- 
laden and feebly-rowed batteaux, the soldiers being too much 
fatigued to toil at the oars, after the day they had just gone 
through. AVe consequently passed nearly every thing, and soon 
got on a parallel course with that of the boats, moving along at 
a few rods in-shore of them. Dirck remarked, however, that 
two or three small craft even passed us. Tliey went so near 
the mountain, quite within its shadows, in fact, as to render it 
difficult to say what they were ; though it was supposed they 
might be whale-boats, of which there were more than a hundred 
in the flotilla, carr}'ing officers of rank. 

No one spoke. It appeared to me that not a human voice 
was raised among those humiliated and defeated thousands. 
The plash of oars, so long as we were at a distance from the 
line, alone broke the silence of night ; but that was incessant. 
As our canoe drew ahead, however, an hour or two after we 
had left the shore, and we overtook the boats that had first 
started, the moaning and groans of the wounded became blended 
with the monotonous sounds of the oars. In two respects, these 
unfortunate men had reason to felicitate themselves, notwith- 
standing their sufferings. No army could have transported its 
wounded with less pain to the hurt; and the feverish thirst 
that loss of blood always induces, might be assuaged by the 
limpid element on which we all floated. 

After paddling for hours, Susquesus was relieved by Jaap— 
Dirck, Guert and myself occasionally lending our aid. Each 



SATANSTOE. 38/ 

had a paddle, and each used it as he saw fit, while the Onon- 
dago slept. Occasionally I caught a nap myself, as did my 
companions ; and we all felt refreshed by the rest and sleep. 
At length we reached the narrow pass that separated the upper 
from the lower lake, and we entered the former. This is 
near the place where the islands are so nimierous, and we were 
unavoidably made to pass quite close to some of the batteaux. 
I say to some, for the line became broken at this point, each 
boat going through the openings it found the most conve- 
nient. 

" Come nearer with that bark canoe," called out an officer 
from a batteau ; "I wish to learn who is in it." 

" We are volunteers, that joined the th the day the army 

moved up, and were guests of Major Bulstrode. Pray, sir, can 
you tell us where that officer can be found?" 

" Poor Bulstrode ! He got a very awkward hit early in the 
day, and was taken past me to the rear. He will be able 
neither to walk nor to ride for some months, if they save his 
leg. I heard the commander-in-chief order him to be sent 
across the lake in the first boat with the wounded ; and some 
one told me Bulstrode himself expressed an intention to be car- 
ried some distance to a friend's house, to escape from the abom- 
inations of an army hospital. The fellow has horses enough to 
transport him on a horse-litter to Cape Horn, if he wishes it. 
I'll warrant you Bulstrode works his way into good quarters, if 
they are to be had in America. I suppose this arm of mine 
will have to come off, as soon as we reach Fort William Henry ; 
and that job done, I confess I should like amazingly to keep 
him company. Proceed, gentlemen ; I hope I have not de- 
tained you ; but observing a bark canoe, J thought it my duty 
to ascertain we were not followed by spies." 

" This then was another victim of war ! He spoke of the 
loss of his arm, notwithstanding, with as much coolness as if it 
were the loss of a tooth ; yet I question not, that in secret he 
mourned over the calamity in bitterness of heart. Men nc-or 
wear the mask more completely than when excited and stimu • 



388 SATAN8T0E. 

lated by tlie rivalry of arms. Bulstrode, too, at Ravensnest ! 
He could be carried nowhere else so easily ; and should his 
wound be of a nature that did not require constant medica. 
treatment, where could he be so happily bestowed as under the 
roof of Herman Mordaunt ? Shall I confess that the idea gave 
me great pain, and that I was fool enough to wish that I too 
could return to Anneke, and appeal to her sympathies, by drag- 
ging with me a wounded limb !" 

Our canoe now passed quite near another batteau, the officer 
in command of which was "standing erect, seemingly watching 
our movements. He appeared to be unhurt, but was probably 
intrusted with some special duty. As we paddled by, the fol- 
lowing curious conversation occurred. 

"You move rapidly to the rear, my friends," observed the 
stranger ; " pray, moderate your zeal ; others are in advance of 
you with the evil tidings !" 

"You must think ill of our patriotism and loyalty, sir, to 
imagine we are hastening on with the intelligence of a check to 
the British arms," I answered as dryly, and almost as equivo- 
cally in manner, as the other had spoken. 

"The check! — I beg a thousand pardons — I see you are 
patriots, and of the purest water ! Check is just the word ; 
though check-mafc would be more descriptive and significant ! 
A charming time we've had of it, gentlemen 1 "What say you ? 
— it is your move now." 

" There has been much firmness and gallantry manifested by 
the troops," I answered, "as we who have been merely volun- 
teers, will always be ready to testify." 

"I beg your pardons, again and again," returned the officer, 
raising his hat and bowing profoundly — " I did not know I had 
the honor to address volunteers. You are entitled to superla- 
tive respect, gentlemen, having come voluntarily into such a 
field. For my part, I find the honor oppressive, having no such 
supererogatory virtue to boast of. Volunteers ! On my word, 
gentlemen, you will have many wonders to relate, when you 
get back into the family circle." 



SATANSTOE. 389 

" We sliall have to speak of tte gallantry of tlie Highlanders, 
for we saw all they did and all they suflfered." 

"Ah ! "Were you, then, near that brave corps ?" exclaimed 
the other, with something like honest, natural feeling, for the 
first time exhibited in his voice and meaning ; I honor men 
who were only sjjcciators of so much courage, especially if they 
took a tolerably near view of it. May I venture to ask your 
names, gentlemen ?" 

I answered, giving him our names, and mentioning the fact 
that we had been the guests of Bulstrode, and how much we 
were disappointed in having missed not only our friend, but his 
corps. 

"Gentlemen, I honor courage, let it come whence it may," 
said the stranger, with strong feeling and no acting, " and most 
admire it when I see it exhibited by natives of these colonies, 
in a quarrel of their own. I have heard of you as being with 
poor Howe when he fell, and hope to know more of you. As 
for Bulstrode, he has passed southward now some hours, and 
intends to make his cure among some connections that he has 
in this province. Do not let this be the last of our intercourse, 

I beg of you ; but look up Captain Charles Lee, of the th, 

who will be glad to take each and all of you by the hand, 
when we once more get into camp." 

We expressed our thanks, but Susquesus causing the canoe 
to make a sudden inclination toward the shore, the conversation 
was suddenly interrupted. 

By this time the Indian was awake, and exercising his author- 
ity in the canoe again. Gliding among the islands, he shortly 
landed us at the precise point where we had embarked only five 
days before. Securing his little bark, the Onondago led the way 
up the ravine, and brought us out on the naked cap of the moun- 
tain where we had before slept, after an hour of extreme efibrt. 

If the night had been so memorable, the picture presented 
at the dawn of day was not less so 1 We reached that lofty 
look-out about the same time in the morning as the Indian had 
awakened me on the previous occasion, and had the same nat- 



390 SATANSTOE. 

ural outlines to the view. In one sense also, the artificial 
accessories were the same, though exhibited under a very dif- 
ferent aspect. I presume the truth will not be much, if any- 
exceeded, when I say that a thousand boats were in sight, on 
this as on a former occasion. A few, a dozen or so at most, 
appeared to have reached the head of the lake ; but all the rest 
of that vast flotilla were scattered along the placid surface of the 
lovely sheet, forming a long, straggling line of dark spots that 
extended to the beach under Fort William Henry in one direc- 
tion, and as far as eye could reach in the other. How different 
did that melancholy, broken procession of boats appear, from 
the gallant array, the martial bands, the cheerful troops, and 
the multitude of ardent young men who had pressed forward in 
brigades less than a week before, filled with hope, and exulting 
in their strength ! As I gazed on the picture, I could not but 
fancy to myself the vast amount of physical pain, the keen 
mental suffering, and the deep mortification that might have 
been found, amid that horde of returning adventurers. Wo 
had just come up from the level of this scene of human agony, 
and our imaginations could portray details that were beyond the 
reach of the senses, at the elevation on which we stood. 

A week before, and the name of Abercrombie filled every 
mouth in America; expectation had almost placed his renown 
on that giddy height where performance itself is so often inse- 
cure. In the brief interval, he was destroyed. Those who had 
been ready to bless him, would now heap curses on his devoted 
head, and none would be so bold as to urge aught in his favor. 
Men in masses, when goaded by disappointment, are never just. 
It is, indeed, a hard lesson for the individual to acquire; but 
released from his close, personal responsibility, the single man 
follows the crowd, and soothes his own mortification and 
wounded pride by joining in the cry that is to immolate a 
victim. Yet Abercrombie was not the foolhardy and besotted 
bully that Braddock had proved himself to be. His misfortune 
was, to be ignorant of the warfare of the region in which he was 
required to serve, and possibly to overestimate the imaginary 



SATANSTOE. 391 

invincible cliaractcr of tlic veterans he led. In a very sliort 
time he was recalled, and America heard no more of him. As 
some relief to the disgrace that had anew alighted on the British 
arms, Bradstreet, a soldier who knew the country, and who 
placed much reliance on the young man of her name and family 
whom I had met at Madam Schuyler's, marched against Fron- 
tenac, in Canada, at the head of a strong body of provincials ; 
an enterprise that, as it was conducted with skill, resulted in a 
triumph. 

But with all this my narrative has no proper connection. 
No sooner did we reach the bald mountain top, than the Onon- 
dago directed Jaap to light a fire, while he produced from a 
deposit left on the advance, certain of the materials that were 
necessary to a meal. As neither of us had tasted food since 
the morning of the previous day, this repast was welcome, and 
we all partook of it like so many famished men. The negro 
got his share, of course, and then we called a council as to 
future proceedings. 

"The question is, whether we ought to make a straight 
path to Ravensnest," observed Guert, " or proceed first to the 
surveyor's, and see how things are going on in that du-ection." 

"As there can be no great danger of a pursuit on the part 
of the French, since all their boats are in the other lake," I re- 
marked, " the state of the country is very much what it was 
before the army moved." 

"Ask that question of the Indian," put in Dirck, a little 
significantly. 

We looked at Susquesus inquiringly, for a look always suf- 
ficed to let him comprehend us, when a tolerably plain allusion 
had been previously made. 

" Black man do foolish t'ing, observed the Onondago. 

" What I do, you red-skin devil ?" demanded Jaap, who felt 
a sort of natural antipathy to all Indians, good or bad, excellent 
or indifierent ; a feeling that the Indians repaid to his race by 
contempt indifferently concealed. "What I do, red-devil, ha? 
dat you dares tell Ma.sser Corny dalP'' 



392 8ATANST0E. 

Susquesus manifested no resentment at tliis strong and some- 
what rude appeal, but sat as motionless as if lie had not heard 
it. This vexed Jaap so much the more ; and my fellow being 
exceedingly pugnacious on all occasions that touched his pride, 
there might have been immediate war between the two, had I 
not raised a finger, at once eft'ectually stilling the outbreak of 
Jacob Satanstoe's wrath. 

" You should not bring such a charge against my slave, Onon- 
dago," I said, "unless able to prove it." 

" He beat red warrior like dog." 

"What of dat !" growled Jaap, who was only half-quieted 
by my sign. " Who ebber hear it hurt red-skin to rope-end 
him?" 

" Warrior back like squaw's. Blow hurt him. lie never 
forget." 

"Well, let him remember, den," grinned the negro, showing 
his ivory teeth from ear to car. " Muss was my prisoner, and 
what good he do me, if he let go Avidout punishment. I wish 
you tell Masser Corny dat^ instead of tellin' him nonsense. 
When he flog me, who ebber hear me grumble ?" 

" You have not had half enough of it, Jaap, or your man- 
ners would be better," I thought it necessary to put in, for the 
fellow had never before manifested so quarrelsome a disposition 
in my presence ; most probably because I had never before seen 
him at variance with an Indian. "Let me hear no more of 
this, or I shall be obliged to pay off the arrears on the spot." 

"A little hiding does a nigger good, sometimes," observed 
Guert significantly. 

I observed that Dirck, who loved my very slave principally 
because he was mine, looked at the ofiender reprovingly ; and 
by these combined demonstrations, we succeeded in curbing 
the fellow's tongue. 

"Well, Susquesus," I added, "Ave all listen to hear what 
you mean." 

" Musquerusque chief— Huron chief-— got A'ery tender back ; 
never forget rope." 



SATANSTOE. 393 

" You mean us to understand that my black's prisoner will 
be apt to make some attempt to revenge himself for the flogging 
he got from his captor ?" 

" Just so. Indian good memory — no forget friend — no forget 
enemy." 

" But your Huron -svill be puzzled to find us, Onondago. lie 
will suppose us with the army, and should he even venture to 
look for us there, you see he will be disappointed." 

"Never know. Wood full of paths — Injin full of cunning. 
Why talk of Eavensnest?" 

"Was the name of Eavensnest mentioned in the presence of 
that Huron?" I asked, more uneasy than such a trifle Avould 
probably have justified me in confessing. 

" Ay, something was said about it, but not in a way the fel- 
low could understand," answered Guert, carelessly, "Let him 
come on, if he has not had enough of us yet." 

This was not my manner of viewing the matter, however ; 
for the mentioning of Eavensnest brought Anneke to my mind, 
surrounded by the horrors of an Indian's revenge. 

"I will send you back to the Huron, Susquesus," I added, 
"if you can name to me the price that will purchase his for- 
giveness. 

The Onondago looked at me meaningly a moment ; then 
bending forward, he passed the fore-finger of his hand around 
the head of Jaap, along the line that is commonly made by the 
knife of the warrior, as he cuts away the trophy of success from 
his victim. Jaap comprehended the meaning of this very sig- 
nificant gesture as well as any of us, and the manner in which 
he clutched the wool, as if to keep the scalp in its place, set us 
all laughing. The negro did not partake of our mirth ; but t 
saw that he regarded the Indian, much as the bull-dog shows 
bis teeth before he makes his spring. Another motion of my 
finger, however, quelled the rising. It Avas necessary to put an 
end to this, and Jaap was ordered to prepare our packs, in read- 
iness for the expected march. Eclieved from his presence, Sus- 
quesus was asked to be more explicit. 



394 8ATANST0E. 

"You know Injin," tlie Onondago answered. "Now lie 
t'ink red-coats driv' away and skeared, lie go look for scalp. 
Love all sort scalp — old scalp, young scalp — man scalp, woman 
scalp — boy scalp, gal scalp — all get pay, all get lionor. No 
difference to him." 

"Ay!" exclaimed Gucrt, with a strong respiration, such as 
escapes a man who feels strongly; "he is a devil incarnate, 
Avhen he once gets fairly on the scent of blood ! So you expect 
these French Injins will make an excursion in among the set- 
tlers, out here to the south-east of us ?" 

"Go to nearest — don't care where he be. Nearest your 
friend; won't like that, s'pose?" 

"You are right enough, Onondago, in saying that. I shall 
not like it, nor will my companions here like it ; and the first 
thing you will have to do, will be to guide us, straight as the 
bird flies, to the Ravensncst ; the picketed house, you know, 
where we have left our sweethearts." 

Susquesus understood all that was said without any difficulty ; 
in proof of which he smiled at this allusion to the precious 
character of the inmates of the house Guert told him to seek. 

" Squaw pretty 'nough," he answered, complacently. " No 
wonder young man like him. But can't go there now. First 
find fiiends measure land. All Injin land, once !" 

This last remark was made in a way I did not like ; for the 
idea seemed to cross the Onondago's brain so suddenly, as 
to draw from him this brief assertion in pure bitterness of 
spirit. 

"I should be very sorry if it had not been, Susquesus." I 
observed, " myself, since the title is all the better for its having 
been so, as our Indian deed will show. You know, of course, 
that my father and his friend Colonel Follock, bought this land 
of the Mohawks, and paid them their own price for it." 

" Eed man nebber measure land so. He p'int with finger, 
break bush down, and say, * there, take from that water to that 
water.' " 

"All very true, my friend ; but as that sort of measurement 



SATAN8T0E. 395 

will not answer to keep farms separate, we are obliged to survey 
the whole off into lots of smaller size. The Mohawks first gave 
my father and his Mend as much land as they could walk around 
in two suns, allowing them the night to rest in. 

" That good deed !" exclaimed the Indian, with strong em- 
phasis. " Leg can't cheat — pen great rogue," 

" Well, we have the benefit of both grants ; for the proprie- 
tors actually walked round the estate, a party of Indians accom- 
panying them, to see that all was fair. After that, the chiefs 
signed a deed in writing, that there might be no mistake, and 
then we got the king's grant." 

*' Who give king land at all ? All land here red man's laud ; 
who give him to the king ?" 

" Who made the Delawarcs women? The warriors of the 
Six Nations, was it not, Susquesus ?" 

"Yes, my people help. Six Nation great warrior, and put 
petticoat on Delawai*es, so they can't go on war-path any more. 
What that to do with king's land f ' 

" Why, the king's warriors, you know, my friend, have taken 
possession of this country, just as the Six Nations took posses- 
sion of the Delawares, before they made them women." 

"What become of king's warrior, now J" demanded the 
Indian, quick as lightning. " Where he run away to t Where 
land Ticonderoga, now ! Wliose land t'oder end lake, now ?" 

" Why, the king's troops have certainly met with a disaster; 
and for the present, their rights arc weakened, it must be ad- 
mitted. But another day may see all this changed, and the 
king may get his land again. You will remember he has not 
sold Ticonderoga to the French, as the Mohawks sold Moose- 
ridge to us ; and that you must admit, makes a great differ- 
ence. A bargain is a baigain, Onondago," 

" Yes, bargain bargain — that good. Good for red man 
-good for pale-face — no difference — what Mohawk sell, he no 
take back, but let pale-face keep — but how come Mohawk and 
king seli, too ?" Bot' own land, eh?" 

This was rather a puzzling question to answer to an Indian. 



396 SATANSTOE. 

We white people can very well understand ttat a humane gov- 
ernment, which professes, on the principles recognized by civi- 
lized nations to have jurisdiction over certain extensive territories 
that lie in the virgin forest, and which are used only, and that 
occasionally, by certain savage tribes as hunting-grounds, should 
deem it right to satisfy those tribes by purchase, before they 
parcelled out their lands for the purposes of civilized life ; but 
it would not be so easy to make an unsophisticated mind under- 
stand that there could be two owners to the same property. 
Tlie transaction is simple enough to us, and it tells in favor of 
our habits, for we have the power to grant these lands without 
" extinguishing the Indian title," as it is termed ; but it pre- 
sents difficulties to the understandings of those who are not 
accustomed to see society surrounded by the multifarious inter- 
ests of civilization. In point of fact, the Indian purchases give 
no other title, under our laws, than the right to sue out, in 
council, a claim to acquire by the grant of the crown ; paying 
to the latter such a consideration as in its wisdom it shall see 
tit to demand. Still, it was necessary to make some answer to 
the Onondago's question, lest he might carry away the mis- 
taken notion that we did not justly own our possessions. 

" Suppose you find a rifle to your fancy, Susquesus," I said, 
after. reflecting a moment on the subject, "and you find two 
Indians who both claim to own it ; now, if you pay each warrior 
his price, is your right to the title any the worse for having 
done so? Is it not rather better ?" 

The Indian was struck with this reply, which suited the 
character of his mind. Thrusting out his hand, he received 
mine, and shook it cordially, as much as to say he was 
satisfied. Having disposed of this episode thus satisfactorily, 
we turned to the more interesting subject of our immediate 
movements. 

" It would seem that the Onondago expects the French In- 
dians will now strike at the settlements," I remarked to my 
companions, " and that our friends at Ravensnest may need 
our aid ; but, at the same time, he thinks we should first return 



SATANSTOE. 397 

to Mooseridge, and join tte surveyors. Which mode of pro- 
ceeding strikes you as the best, my friends?" 

"Let us first hear the Injin's reasons for going after the sur- 
veyors," answered Guert. "If he has a sufficient reason for 
Jiis plan, I am ready to follow it." 

" Sur\^eyor got scalp, as well as squaw," said Susqucsus, in 
his brief, meaning manner. 

"That must settle the point!" exclaimed Guert. "I un- 
derstand it all, now. The Onondago thinks the Mooseridge 
party may be cut off, as being alone and unsupported, and that 
we ought to apprise them of this danger." 

"All perfectly just," I replied, "and it is what they, being 
our own people, have a right to expect from us. Still, Guert, 
I should think those surveyors might be safe where they are, 
in the bosom of the forest, for a year to come. Their business 
there cannot be known, and who then is to betray them ?" 

"See," said Susqucsus, earnestly. "Kill deer, and leave 
him in the wood. Won't raven find carcass?" 

" That may be true enough ; but a raven has an instinct, 
given him by nature, to furnish him with food. lie flies high 
in the air, moreover, and can see further than an Indian." 

"Nuttin' see farther than Injin ! Redman fly high, too. 
See from salt lake to sweet water. Know ebbery t'ing in wood. 
Tell him nuttin' he don't know." 

" You do not suppose, Susqucsus, that the Huron warriors 
could find our surveyors at Mooseridge ?" 

" Why no find him ? Find moose ; why no find ridge, too ? 
Find Mooseridge, sartain; find land measurer." 

"On the whole. Corny," Guert remarked after musing a 
little, "we may do well to follow the Injin's advice. I have 
heard of so many misfortunes that have befallen people in the 
bush, from having despised Indian counsels, that I own to a 
little superstition on the subject. Just look at what happened 
yesterday! Had red-skin opinions been taken, Abercrombic 
might now have been a conqueror, instead of a miserable beateu 
man." 



398 SATANSTOE. 

Susquesus raised a finger, and liis dark countenance became 
illumined by an expression that was more eloquent even than 
his tongue. 

"Why no open ear to red man?" he asked with dignity. 
" Some bird sing a song that good — some sing bad song — but 
all bird know his own song. Mohawk warrior use to wood, and 
follow a crooked war-path, when he meet much enemy. Great 
Yengeese chief think his warrior have two life, that he put him 
before cannon and rifle to stand up and be shot. No Injin do 
so foolish — no — never!" 

As this was too true to be controverted, the matter was not 
discussed ; but having determined among ourselves to let the 
Onondago take us back on the path by which wo had come, we 
.announced our readiness to start as soon as it might suit his 
convenience. Being sufficiently rested, Susquesus, who did 
every thing on system, manifesting neither impatience nor lazi- 
ness, arose and quietly led the way. Our course was just the 
reverse of that on which we had travelled when we left Moose- 
ridge ; and I did not fail to observe that so accurate was the 
knowledge of our guide, we passed many of the same objects 
as we had previously gone near. There was nothing like a 
track, with the exception of occasional footprints left by our- 
selves ; but it was evident the Onondago paid not the least 
attention to these, possessing other and more accessible clues to 
his course. 

Guert marched next to the Indian, and I was third in the line. 
How often that busy day did I gaze at my file-leader, in admi- 
ration of his figure and mien ! Nature appeared to have 
intended him for a soldier. Although so powerful, his frame 
was agile — a particular in which he differed from Direk, who, 
although so young, already gave symptoms of heaviness at no 
distant day. Then Guert's carnage was as fine as his form. 
The head was held erect ; the eye was intrepid in its glance ; 
and the tread elastic, though so firm. To the last hour, on that 
long and weary march, Guert leaped logs, sprang across hol- 
lows in the ground, and otherwise manifested that his iron 



SATANSTOfi. 399 

sinews and hardened muscles still retained all their powers. As 
lie moved in my front I saw for the first time, that some of the 
fringe of his hunting-shirt had been cut away in the fight, and 
that a musket-ball had passed directly through his cap. I 
afterward ascertained that Guert was aware of these escapes, 
but his nature W' as so manly he did not think of mentioning them. 

We made a single halt as before, to dine ; but little was said 
at this meal, and no change in our plan was proposed. This 
Avas the point where we ought to have diverged from the former 
course, did we intend to proceed first to Ravensncst ; but though 
all knew it, nothing was said on the subject. 

" We shall carry unwelcome tidings to Mr. Traverse and his 
men," Guert observed, a minute or two before our halt was up ; 
"for I take it for granted, the news cannot have gone ahead of 
«s." 

" We first," answered the Onondago. " Too soon for Huron 
yet. T'ink so — nobody know." 

"I wish. Corny," pursued the Albanian, "we had thought 
of saying a word to Doortje about this accursed expedition. 
There is no use in a man's being above his business; and he 
who puts himself in the way of fortune, might profit by now 
and then consulting a fortune-teller. 

" Had we done so, and had all that has happened been fore- 
told, do you suppose it would have made any change in the 
result?" 

"Perhaps not, since we should have been the persons to re 
late what we had heard. But Abercrombie himself need have 
had no scruples about visiting that remarkable old woman. 
She's a wonderful creature, Corny, as we must allow, and a 
prudent general would not fail to respect what she told him. It 
is a thousand pities that either the commander-in-chief or the 
adjutant-general had not paid Doortje a visit before they left 
Albany. My lord Howe's valuable life might then have been 
saved." 

" In what way, Guert? I am at a loss to see in what man- 
uer any good could come of it." 



400 SATANSTOE. 

"In "what manner? "Why, in the phiinest possible. Now 
suppose Doortje had foretold this defeat ; it is clear Abercrom- 
bie, if he put any faith in the old woman, would not have made 
the attack." 

" And thus defeat the defeat. Do you not see, Guert, that 
the soothsayer can at the best but foretell what is to happen, 
and that which must come ^v^ll. It would be an easy matter 
for any of us to get great reputations for fortune-telUng, if all 
we had to do was to predict misfortunes, in order that our 
friends might avoid them. As nothing would ever happen, in 
consequence of the precautions taken to avert the evils, a name 
would be easily and cheaply maintained." 

"By St. Nicholas! Corny, I never thought of that! But 
you have been college-taught ; and a thousand things are picked 
up at colleges that one never dreams of at an academy. I see 
reason every day to lament my idleness when a boy ; and for- 
tunate shall I be, if I do not lament it all my life." 

Poor Guert ! He was always so humble when the subject of 
education arose, however accidentally or unintentionally on my 
part, that it was never commented on, that it did not give me 
pain, exciting a wish to avoid it. As the time for the halt was 
now up, it was easy to terminate the present discussion, by 
declaring as much, and proceeding on our way. 

We had a hard afternoon's walk of it, though neither of the 
five manifested the least disposition to give in. As for Susque- 
sus, to me he never seemed to know either fatigue or hun- 
ger. He was doubtless acquainted with both ; but his habits 
of self-command were so severe, as to enable him complete- 
ly to conceal his sufferings in this, as well as in most other 
respects. 

The sun was near setting when Ave entered within the limits 
of the Mooseridge estate. We ascertained this fact by passing 
the line-trees, some of which had figures cut into their bark, to 
denote the numbers of the great subdivisions of the property. 
Guert pointed out these marks ; being far more accustomed to 
the woods than either Dirck or myself. Aided by such guides. 



SATANSTOE. 401 

we had no difficulty in mating a sufficiently straight course to 
the hut. 

Susquesus thought a little caution necessary as we drew near 
to the end of our journey. Causing us to remain behind, he 
advanced in front himself to reconnoitre. A signal, however, 
soon took us to the place where he stood, when we discovered 
the hut just as we had left it, but no one near it. This might 
be the result of mere accident, the surveying party frequently 
"camping out," in preference to making a long march after a 
fatiguing day's work ; and Pete would be very likely to prefer 
going to join these men to remaining alone in the hut. We 
advanced to the building therefore with confidence. On reach- 
ing it, we found the place empty, as had been anticipated, 
though with every sign about it of its tenants having left it but 
a short time previously ; that morning, at the furthest. 

Jaap set about preparing a supper out of the regular supplies 
of the party; all of which were found in their places, and in 
abundance. On inquiry of the fellow, I ascertained it was his 
opinion Mr. Traverse had gone off that very day, most probably 
to some distant portion of the patent, taking Pete with him, 
as every thing was covered up and put away with that sort of 
care that denotes an absence of some little time. The Indian 
heard the negro's remark to this effect, and tossing his head 
significantly, he said — 

" No need guess — go see — light enough — plenty time. Injin 
soon telL" 

He quitted the hut on the spot, and immediately set about 
this self-assigned duty. 



402 SATANSTOK. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

"Thou treinblest; and the whiteness in thy cheek, 
Is aptcr than ihy tongue to tell thy errand." 

SUAKSPEAKE. 

Curiosity induced inc to follow the Indian, in order to Avatch 
his movements. Susquesus proceeded a short distance from the 
hut, quitting the knoll entirely, until he reached lower land, 
where a footprint would be most likely to be visible, when he 
commenced a slow circuit of the place, with eyes fastened on 
the earth, as the nose of the hound follows the scent. I was so 
much interested in the Onondago's manner as to join him, 
falling in in his rear, in order not to interfere with his object. 

Of footmarks there were plenty, more particularly on the 
low, moist ground, where we were ; but they all appeared to 
me to have no interest with the Indian. Most of our party 
wore moccasins ; and it was not easy to see how, under such 
circumstances, and amid such a maze of impressions, it could 
be possible for any one to distinguish a hostile from a friendly 
traU. That Susquesus thought the thing might be done, how- 
ever, was very evident by his perseverance, and his earnestness. 

At first, my companion met with no success, or with nothing 
that he fancied success ; but after making half the circuit of the 
hut, keeping always a hundred yards distant from it, he suddenly 
stooped quite to the earth ; then arose, and, sticking a broken 
knot into the ground as a mark, signed to me to keep a 
little on one side, while he turned at right angles to his former 
course, and moved inward toward our dwelling. I followed 
slowly, watching his movements, step by step. 

In this manner we reached the hut, deviating from a direct 
line, in order to do so. At the hut itself Susquesus made a 



SATANSTOE. 403 

long and minute examination ; but even I could see, that the 
marks here were so numerous as to baffle even him. After 
finishing his search at this point, the Indian turned, and vfent 
back to the place where he had stuck the knot in the ground. 
In doing this, however, he followed his o-svn trail, returning by 
precisely the same deviating course as that by which he had 
come. This alone would have satisfied me that he saw more 
than I did ; for, to own the truth, I could not have done the 
same thing. 

Wlien we reached the knot, Susquesus followed that (to me 
invisible) trail outside of the circle, leading off into the forest in 
a direct line from the hut and spring. I continued near him, 
although neither had spoken during the whole of this examina- 
tion, which had now lasted quite half an hour. As it was 
getting dark, however, and Jaap showed the signal that our 
supper was ready, I thought it might be well, at length, to 
break the sifence. 

" What do you make of all this, Trackless ?" I inquired. 
" Do you find any signs of a trail ?" 

"Good trail" — Susquesus answered ; "new trail, too ; Look 
like Huron !" 

This Avas startling intelligence, certainly ; yet, much as I was 
disposed to defer to my companion's intelligence in such matters, 
in general, I thought he must be mistaken in his fact- In the 
first place, though I had seen many footprints near the hut, 
and along the low land on which the Indian made his circuit, 
I could see none where we then were. I mentioned this to the 
Indian, and desired him to show me, particularly, one of the 
signs which had led him to his conclusion. 

"See," said Susquesus, stooping so low as to place a finger 
on the dead leaves that ever make a sort of carpet to the forest, 
"here been moccasin — that heel; this toe." 

Aided, in this manner, I could discover a faint footprint, 
which might, by aid of the imagination, be thus read ; though 
the very slight impression that was to be traced, might almost 
as well be supposed any thing else, as it seemed to me. 



404 SATANSTOE. 

" I sec wliat you mean, Susquesus ; and I allow, it may be a 
footprint," I answered ; "but then it may also have been left 
by any thing else which has touched the ground just at that 
spot. It may have been made by a falling branch of a tree." 

"Where branch?" asked the Indian, quick as lightning. 

" Sure enough ; that is more than I can tell you. But I can- 
not suppose that a Huron footprint, without more evidence 
than you now give." 

"What you call that?— this— that— t'other?" added the 
Indian, stepping quickly back, and pointing to four other simi- 
lar, but very faint impressions on the leaves ; " no see him, eh? 
—Just leg apart, too !" 

This was true enough ; and now my attention was thus 
directed, and my senses were thus aided, I confess I did dis- 
cover certain proofs of footsteps, that would, otherwise, have 
baffled my most serious search. 

"I can see what you mean, Susquesus," I said, "and will 
allow that this line of impressions, or marks, does make them 
look more like footsteps. At any rate, most of our party wear 
moccasins as well as the red men, and how do you know that 
some of the surveyors have not passed this way ?" 

" Surveyor no make such mark. Toe turn in." 

This was true, too. But it did not follow that a footprint 
was a Huron's merely because it was Indian. Then where 
were the enemy's warriors to come from, in so short a time as 
had intervened between the late battle and the present moment ? 
Tliere was little question all the forces of the French — pale-face 
and red man, had been collected at Ticonderoga to meet the 
English; and the distance was so great as almost to render it 
impossible for a party to reach this spot so soon, coming from 
the vicinity of the fortress after the occurrence of the late events. 
Did not the lake interpose an obstacle, I might have inferred 
that parties of skirmishers would be thrown on the flanks of the 
advancing army, thus bringing foes within a lessened distance of 
us ; but there was the lake, affording a safe approach for more 
than thirty miles, and rendering the employment of any such skir- 



S A TANS TOE. 405 

mislicrs useless. All tliis occurred to me at tlie moment, and I 
mentioned it to my companion as an argument against his own 
supposition. 

"No true," answered Susquesus, sliakiug his Lead. " That 
trail — he Huron trail too. Don't know red man to say so." 

"But red men are human as well as pale-faces. It must be 
seventy miles from this spot to the foot of Lake George, and 
your conjecture would make it necessary that a party should 
have travelled that distance in less than twenty-four hours, and 
be here some time before us." 

"We no travel him, eh ?" 

" I grant you that. Trackless ; but we came a long bit of the 
road in a canoe, each and all of us sleeping and resting ourselves 
in turns. These Ilurous must have come the whole distance 
by land." 

"No so. Huron paddle canoe as well as Onondago. Lake 
there — canoe plenty. "Why not come ?" 

"Do you suppose, Trackless, that any of the French Indiana 
would venture on the lake while it was covered with our boats, 
as was the case last night ?" 

" What ' our boat' good for, eh ? Garry wounded warrior — 
carry runaway warrior — what he care? T'ink Huron 'fraid 
of boat? Boat got eye, eh? Boat see; boat hear; boat 
shoot, eh?" 

"Perhaps not; but those who were in the boats can do all 
this, and would be apt at least to speak to a strange canoe." 

" Boat speak my canoe, eh ? Onondago canoe strange 
canoe too." 

All this was clear enough, when I began to reflect on it. It 
was certainly possible for a canoe with two or three paddles, to 
go the whole length of the lake in much less time than we had 
employed in going two-thirds of the distance ; and a party 
landing in the vicinity of William Henry, could certainly have 
reached the spot where we then were, several "iours sooner than 
we had reached it ourselves. Still there existed all the other 
improbabilities on my side of the question. It was improbable 



406 SATANSTOE. 

that a party should have proceeded in precisely this manner ; 
it was still more improbable that such a party, coming on a 
•war-path from a distant part of the country, should know exactly 
•where to find our hut. After a moment's pause, and while we 
both slowly proceeded to join our companions, I suggested these 
objections to the Onondago. 

" Don't know Injin," answered the other, betraying more 
earnestness of manner than was usual with him when he con- 
descended to discuss any of the usages of the tribes with a 
pale-face. " He fight first, then he want scalp. Ever see dead 
horse in wood — well, no crow there, eh ? Plenty crow, isn't 
he? Just so Injin. Wounded soldier carry off, and Injin 
watch in wood, behind army, to get scalp. Scalp good after 
battle. Want him very much. Wood full of Huron, along 
path to Albany. Yengeese down in heart ; Huron up. Scalp 
so good, t'ink of nuttin else. 

By this time Ave had reached the hut, where I found Guerl 
and Dirck already at their supper. I will own that my appetite 
was not as good as it might have been but for the Onondago' s 
conjectures and discoveries, though I took a seat and began to 
cat with my friends. While at the meal, I communicated to 
my companions all that had passed, particularly asking of Guert, 
who had a respectable knowledge of the bush, what he thought 
of the probabilities of the case. 

" If hostile red skins have really been here lately," the Alba- 
nian answered, " they have been thoroughly cunning devils ; for 
not an article in or about the hut has been disturbed. I had 
an eye to that myself, the moment we arrived ; for I have thought 
it far from unlikely that the Hurons would be out on the road 
between William Henry and the settlements, trying to get 
scalps from the parties that would be likely to be sent to the 
rear with wounded officers." 

"In which case our friend Bulstrode might be in dangci f 

"He must take his chance, like all of lis. But he will prob- 
ably be ■ caiTied to Ravensnest, as the nearest nest for him to 
nestle in. I don't half like this trail, however, Corny; it ia 



8ATANSTOE. 407 

seldom a red skin of the Onondago's cliaracter, makes a mistake 
in such a matter !" 

"It is too late, now, to do any thing to-night," Dirck ob- 
served. "Besides, I don't think any great calamity is likely 
to befall any of us, or Doortjc would have dropped some hint 
about it. These fortune-tellers seldom let any thing serious 
pass without a notice of some sort or other. You see, Corny, 
we went through all this business at Ty, without a scratch, 
which is so much in favor of the old woman's being right." 

Poor Dirck ! that prediction had made a deep impression on 
his character, and on his future life. A man's faith must be 
strong, to fancy that a negative of this nature could carry with 
it any of the force of a positive, affirmative prediction. Never- 
theless Dirck had spoken the truth, in one respect. It was 
too late to do any thing that night, and it only remained to 
prepare to take our rest as securely as possible. 

We consulted on the subject, calling on the Indian to aid 
us. After talking the matter over, it was determined to re- 
main where we were, securing the door, and bringing every body 
within the building ; for the negroes and the Indians had been 
much in the habit of sleeping about, under brush covers that 
they had erected for themselves. It was thought that, having 
once visited the hut, and finding it empty, the enemy, if enemy 
there were, would not be very likely to return to it immediately, 
and that we might consider ourselves as comparatively safe, 
from that circumstance alone. Then, there were all the chances 
that the trail might have been left by friendly instead of hostile 
Indians, although Susquesus shook his head in the negative, 
whenever this was mentioned. At all events, we had but a 
choice of three expedients — to abandon the patent, and seek 
safety in flight; to "camp out;" or to shut ourselves up in 
our fortress. Of the first, no one thought for a moment ; and 
of the two others, wo decided on the last, as far the most com- 
fortable, and on the whole, as the safest. 

An hour after we had come to this determination, I question 
if cither of the five knew any thing about it. I never slept 



403 SATANSTOE. 

more profoundly iu my life, and my companions subsequently 
gave the same account of their several conditions. Fatigue, 
and youth, and health, gave us all refreshing sleep ; and as we 
lay down at nine, two o'clock came after so much time totally 
lost in the way of consciousness. I say two o'clock; for my 
watch told me that was just the hour, when the Indian awoke 
me by shaking my shoulder. One gets the habits of watch 
fulness in the woods, and I was on my feet in an instant. 

Dark as it was, for it was deep night, I could distinguish thac 
Susquesus was alone stirring, and that he had unbarred the 
door of our cabin. Indeed, he passed through that open space, 
into the air of the forest, the moment he perceived I was con- 
scious of what I was about. Without pausing to reflect, I 
followed, and soon stood at his side some liftccn or twenty feet 
from the hut. 

" This good place to hear," said the Indian, in a low, sup- 
pressed tone. " Now, open car." 

What a scene was that, which now presented itself to my 
senses ! I can see it, at this distance of time, after years of 
peaceful happiness, and years of toil and adventure. The 
morning, or it might be better to say the night, was not very 
dark in itself; but the gloom of the woods being added to the 
obscurity of the hour, it lent an intensity of blackness to the 
trunks of the trees, that gave to each a funereal and solemn 
aspect. It was impossible to see for any distance, and the 
objects that were visible were only those that were nearest at 
hand. Notwithstanding, one might imagine the canopied space 
beneath the tops of the trees, and fancy it, in the majesty of 
its gloomy vastness. Of sounds there were literally none, when 
the Indian first bade me listen. The stillness was so profound, 
that I thought I heard the sighing of the night air among the 
upper branches of the loftier trees. This might have been mere 
imagination ; nevertheless, all above the summits of the giant 
oaks, maples and pines, formed a sort of upper world as regard- 
ed us ; a world with which we had little communication, during 
our sojourn in the woods below. The raven, and the eagle, and 



SATAN STOE. 400 

the hawk, sailed iii that region, above the clouds of leaves be- 
neath them, and occasionally stooped, perhaps, to strike their 
quarry ; but to all else it was inaccessible, and to a degree 
invisible. 

But my present concern is with the world I was in; and 
what a world it was ! Solemn, silent, dark, vast and myste- 
rious. I listened in vain to catch the footstep of some busy 
squirrel, for the forest was alive with the smaller animals, by 
night quite as much as by day ; but every thing at that moment 
seemed stilled to the silence of death. 

"I can hear nothing, Trackless," I whispered — "why are 
you out here?" 

" You hear soon — wake me up, and I hear twice. Soon 
come ag'in." 

It did soon come again. It was a human cry, escaping from 
human lips in their agony ! I heard it once only ; but should 
I live to be a hundred it would not be forgotten. I often hear 
it in my sleep, and twenty times have I awoke since, fancying 
that agoniiiing call was in my ears. It was long, loud, piercing, 
and the word " help" was as distinct as tongue could make it. 

"Great God!" I exclaimed — "some one is set upon, and 
calls for aid in his extremity. Let us arouse our friends, and 
go to his assistance. I canuot remain here, Susquesus, with 
such a cry in my ears." 

" Best go, t'ink too," answered the Onondago. " No need 
call, though ; two better than four. Stop minute." 

I did remain stationary that brief space, listening with 
agonized uncertainty, while the Indian entered the hut, and 
returned, bringing out his rifle and my own. Arming our- 
selves, and shutting the door of the cabin, to exclude the night- 
air at least, Susquesus led off with his noiseless step, in a south- 
west direction, or that in which we had heard the sound. 

Our march was too swift and earnest to admit of discourse. 

The Onondago had admonished me to make as little noise as 

possible ; and between the anxiety I felt, and the care taken to 

comply, there was, indeed, but little opj^ortunity for conversing. 

18 



410 SATANSTOE. 

Mv feelings were wrought up to a high pitch ; but my confi- 
dence in my companion being great, I followed in his footsteps 
as diligently as my skill would allow. Susquesus rather trod 
on air than walked ; yet I kept close at his heels, until we had 
gone, as I should think, full half a mile in the direction from 
which that awful cry had come. Here Susquesus halted, say- 
ing to me, in a low voice — 

" No far from here — best stop." 

I submitted in all things to the directions of my Indian 
guide. The latter had selected the dark shadows of two or 
three young pines for our cover, where, by getting within their 
low branches, we were completely concealed from any eye that 
was distant fi-om us eight or ten feet. No sooner were we 
thus posted, than the Onondago pointed to the trunk of a fallen 
tree, and we took our seats silently on it. I observed that my 
companion kept his thumb on the cock of his rifle, while his 
forefinger was passed around the trigger. It is scarcely neces- 
sary to say that I observed the same precaution. 

"This good," said Susquesus, in a voice so low and soft 
that it could not attract more attention than a whisper ; " this 
very good — hear him ag'n, soon ; then know." 

A stifled groan was heard, and that almost as soon as my 
companion ceased to speak. I felt my blood curdle at these 
frightful evidences of human suffering ; and an impulse of 
humanity caused me to move, as if about to rise. The hand 
of Trackless checked the imprudence. 

"No good," he said, sternly. "Sit still. Warrior know 
how to sit still." 

" But, Heavenly Providence ! There is some one in agony, 
quite near us, man. Did you not hear a groan. Trackless ?" 

" To be sure hear him. AVhat of that ? Pain make groan 
come alway, from pale-face." 

"You think, then, it is a white man who suffers? if so, it 
must be one of our party, as there is no one else near us. If I 
hear it again, I must go to his relief, Onondago." 

" Why you behave like squaw ? What of little groan ? Sar- 



SATANSTOE. 411 

tain, he pale-face ; Injin never groan on war-path. Why he 
groan, you t'ink ? Cause Huron meet him. That reason he 
groan. You groan too, no sit still. Injin know time to shoot 
— know time not to shoot." 

I had every disposition to call aloud to inquire who needed 
succor ; yet the admonitions of my companion, aided as they 
were by the gloomy mysteries of that vast forest in the hour of 
deepest night, enabled me to command the impulse. Three 
times, notwithstanding, was that groan repeated, and as it ap- 
peared to me, each time more and more faintly. I thought, 
too, when all was still in the forest — when we sat ourselves in 
breathless expectation of what might next reach our ears — 
attentive to each sighing of the night-air, and distrustful even 
of the rustling leaf — that the last groan of all, though certainly 
the faintest of any we had heard, was much the nearest. Once, 
indeed, I heard, or fancied I heard, the word " water," mur- 
mured in a low, smothered tone, almost in my ear. I thought, 
too, I knew the voice — that it was familiar to me ; though I 
could not decide, in the state of my feelings, exactly to whom 
it belonged. 

In this manner we passed what to me were two of the most 
painful hours of my life, waiting the slow return of light. My 
own impatience was nearly ungovernable ; though the Indian 
sat the whole of that time, seemingly as insensible as the log 
which formed his seat, and almost as motionless. At length 
this intensely anxious, and even physically painful watch dreiw 
near its end. Signs of day gleamed through the canopy of 
leaves, and the rays of dull light appeared to struggle down- 
ward, rendering objects dimly discernible. 

It was not long ere we could ascertain that we had so com- 
pletely covered ourselves, as to be in a position where the 
branches of the pines completely shut out the view of objects 
beyond. This was favorable to reconnoitring, however, pre- 
viously to quitting our concealment, and enabled us to have 
some care of ourselves while attending to the duties of hu- 
manity. 



412 SATANSTOE. 

Susquesus used the greatest caution in looking around before 
he left the cover. I was close at his side peeping through such 
openings as offered, for my curiosity was so intense, that I 
almost forgot the causes for apprehension. It was not long 
before I heard the familiar Indian interjection " hugh !" from 
my companion, a proof that something had caught his eye of 
a more than ordinarily exciting character. He pointed in the 
way I was to look, and there, indeed, I beheld one of those 
frightful instances of barbarous cruelty, that the usages of savage 
warfare have sanctioned as far back as our histories extend, 
among the forest warriors of this continent. The tops of two 
saplings had been brought down near each other by main force, 
the victim's hands attached firmly to upper branches of each, 
and the trees permitted to fly back to their natural positions, or 
as near them as the revolting means of junction would allow. 
I could scarce believe my senses when my sight first revealed 
the truth. But there hung the victim suspended by his arms, 
at an elevation of at least ten or fifteen feet from the earth. I 
confess I sincerely hoped he was dead, and the motionless atti- 
tude, of the body gave me reason to think it might be so. 
Still, the cries for " help," uttered wildly, hopelessly, in the 
midst of a vast and vacant forest, the groans extorted by sufier- 
ing, must have been his. He had probably been thus suspended 
and abandoned while alive ! 

Even the Onondago could not restrain me, after I fully saw 
and understood the nature of the cruelty which had been exer- 
cised on the miserable victim who was thus suspended directly 
before my eyes, and I broke out of the cover, ready, I am will- 
ing to confess, to pull trigger on the first hostile red man I saw. 
Fortunately for myself, most probably, the place had long been 
deserted. As the back of the sufierer was toward me, I could 
not tell who he was ; but his dress was coarse, and of the de- 
scription that belongs to the lowest class. Blood had flowed 
freely from his head, and I made no doubt he had been scalped ; 
though the height at which he hung, and the manner in which 
his head had fallen forward upon his breast, prevented me from 



SATAN STOE. 413 

ascertaining tlie fact at once, by tlic aid of siglit. Tlius much 
did I perceive, however, ere the Indian joined me. 

" See !" said Susquesus, whose quick eye never let any thing 
escape it long, " told you so ; Huron been here." 

As this was said, the Indian pointed significantly at the 
naked skin, which was visible between the heavy, coarse shoes 
of the victim, and the trowsers he wore, when I discovered it 
was black. Moving quickly in front, so as to get a view of the 
face, I recognized the distorted features of Petrus, or Pete, 
Guert Ten Eyck's negro. This man had been left with the 
surveyors, it will be remembered, and he had either fallen into 
the hands of his captors while at the hut, engaged in his ordi- 
nary duties, or he had been met in the forest while going to or 
coming from those he served, and had thus been treated. We 
never ascertained the facts, which remain in doubt to this hour. 

" Give me your tomahawk. Trackless," I cried, as soon as 
horror would permit me to speak, " that I may cut down this 
sapling, and liberate the unfortunate creature !" 

"No good — better so," answered the Indian. "Bear — 
wolf can't get him now. Let black-skin hang — good as bury 
— no safe stay here long. Look round and count Huron, then 
go." 

" Look round and count the Hurons," I thought to myself; 
"and in what manner is this to be done ?" By this time, how- 
ever, it was sufficiently light to see footprints, if any there were, 
and the Onondago set about examining such traces of what had 
passed at that terrible spot, as might be intelligible to one of 
his experience. 

At the foot of a huge oak, that grew a few yards from the 
fatal saplings, we found the two wooden covered pails in which 
we knew Pete had been accustomed to carry food to M. Tra- 
verse and the chain-bearers. They were empty, but whether 
the provisions they unquestionably had contained fell to the 
share of those for whom they were intended, or to that of the 
raptors, we never learned. No traces of bones, potato-skins, 
or other fragments, were discovered ; and if the Hurons had 



414 SATAN STC E. 

seized the provisions, they doubtless transferred them to their 
own repositories, without stopping to eat. Susquesus detected 
proof that the victim had been seated at the foot of the oak, 
and that he had been seized at that spot. There were the 
marks of many feet there, and some proofs of a slight scuffle. 
Blood, too, was to be traced on the leaves, from the foot of the 
oak to the place where poor Pete was suspended ; a proof that 
he had been hurt previously to being abandoned to his cruel 
fate. 

But the point of most interest with Trackless was to ascertain 
the number of our foes. This might be done in some measure, 
according to Ids view of the matter, by means of the footprints. 
There was no want of such signs, the leaves being much dis- 
turbed in places, though after a short but anxious search, my 
companion thought it wisest to repair to the hut, lest those it 
contained might be surprised in their sleep. He gave me to 
understand that the enemy did not appear to be numerous at 
that spot, three or four at most, though it was quite possible, 
nay highly probable, that they had separated, and that their 
whole force was not present at this miserable scene. 

It was broad daylight when we came in sight of the hut 
again, and I perceived Jaap was up and busy with his pots and 
kettles near the spring. No one else was visible, and we 
inferred that Guert and Dirck were still on their pallets. "We 
took a long and distrustful survey of the forest around the cabin, 
from the height where we stood, ere we ventured to approach 
it any nearer. Discovering no signs of danger, and the forest 
being quite clear of the underbrush or cover of any sort, large 
trees excepted, for some distance from the hut, we then advanced 
without apprehension. This open character of the woods near 
our dwelling was felt to be a very favorable circumstance, ren- 
dering it impossible for an enemy to get very near us by day- 
light, without being seen. It was owing to the fact that we 
had used so much of the smaller timber in our own opera- 
tions, while the negroes had burned most of the underbrush for 
fuel. 



SATANSTOE. 415 

Sure enough, I found my two Mends fait asleep, and cer- 
tainly mucli exposed. "When aroused and told all that had 
occurred to me and the Indian, their surprise was great, nor 
was their horror less. Jaap, who, missing us on rising, sup- 
posed we had gone in pursuit of game, had followed us into 
the hut, and heard my communications. His indignation was 
great at the idea of one of his own color being thus treated, 
and I heard him vowing vengeance between his set teeth, in 
terms that were by no means measured. 

" By St. Nicholas !" exclaimed Guert, who had now finished 
dressing, and who accompanied me out into the open air, " my 
poor fellow shall be revenged, if the rifle Avill do it ! Scalped, 
too, do you say. Corny?" 

" As far as we could ascertain, suspended as he was from the 
tree. But scalped he must be, as an Indian never permits a 
dead captive to escape this mutilation." 

" And you have been out in the forest three hours, you tcli 
me. Corny ? you and Trackless ?" 

** About that time, I should judge. The heart must have 
been of stone that could resist those cries !" 

"I do not blame you, Littlepage, though it would have been 
kinder and wiser had you taken your friends with you. We 
must stick together, in future, let what may happen. Poor 
Petrus ! I wonder Doortje should have hinted nothing of that 
nigger's fate!" 

We then held a long consultation on the subject of our mode 
of proceeding next. It is unnecessary to dwell on this confer- 
ence, as its conclusions will be seen in the events of the narra- 
tive ; but it was brought to a close by a very sudden interruption, 
and that was the sound of an axe in the forest. The blows came 
in the direction of the scene of Pete's murder, and we had 
collected our rifles and were preparing to move toward the sus- 
pected point, when we saw Jaap staggering along, coming to 
the hut, beneath the load of his friend's body. The fellow had 
stolen away unseen on this pious duty, and had executed it 
with success. In a minute or two he had reached the spring, 



416 SATAN S TOE. 

and began to wash away the revolting remains of the massacre 
ffom the head of the Huron's victim. 

We now ascertained that poor Pete had been badly cut by 
knives, as well as scalped, and suspended in the manner related. 
Both arms appeared to be dislocated, and the only relief to our 
feelings was in the hope that an attempt to inflict so much 
suffering must have soon defeated itself. Gnert, in particular, 
expressed his hope that such was the case, though the awful 
sounds of the past night were still too fresh in my cars to 
enable me to believe all I could wish on that subject. A grave 
was dug, and we buried the body at once, rolling a large log or 
two on the spot, in order to prevent wild beasts from disinter- 
ring it. Jaap worked hard in the performance of these rites, 
and Guert Ten Eyck actually repeated the Lord's Prayer and 
the Creed over the grave, when the body was placed in it, with 
a fervor and earnestness that a little surprised me. 

"He was but a nigger. Corny, it is true," said the Albanian, 
a little apologetically perhaps, after all was over, "but he was 
a very goot nigger in the first place ; then he had a soul as well 
as a white man — Pete had bis merits as well as a Tominie, and 
I trust they will not be forgotten in the last great account. He 
was an excellent cook, as you must have seen, and I never knew 
a nigger that had more of the dog-like fidelity to his master. The 
fellow never got into a frolic without coming honestly to ask 
leave ; though to be sure, I was not a hard master in these par- 
ticulars on reasonable occasions." 

We next ate our breakfasts with as much appetite as we 
could. Shouldering our packs, and placing all around and in 
the hut as much as possible in the condition in which we had 
found the place, we then commenced our march, Susquesus 
leading as usual. 

We went in quest of the surveyors, who were supposed to be 
in the south-east corner of the patent, employed as usual,, and 
ignorant of all that had passed. At first, we had thoughts of 
discharging our rifles as signals to bring them in ; but these 
signals might apprise our enemies, as well as our friends, of out 



8ATANST0E. 



417 



presence, and tlie distance was too great, moreover, to render 
it probable tlie reports could be lieard by those for wliom alone 
tliey would be intended. 

The route we took was determined by our general knowledge 
of the quarter of the patent in which the surveyors ought now 
to be, as well as by the direction in which the body of Pete 
had been found. The poor fellow was certainly either going to 
or coming from the party, and being in constant communication 
with them, he doubtless knew where they were at work. Then 
the diflferent trails of the surveyors were easily enough found 
by Trackless, and he told us that the most recent led off in 
the direction I have named. Toward the south-east, therefore, 
we held our way, marching, as before, in Indian file ; the Onon- 
dago leading, and the negro bringing up the rear. 



•^ 




418 BATANSTOE. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

" 'Tis too horrible! 
The weariest and most loathed worldly life 
That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment 
Can Iny on nature, is a paradise. 
To what we fear of death." 

Meascek foe Measube. 

We were not long in reaching tlie point of the patent in 
Avhicli the surveyors had been at work, after which we could 
have but little diflficulty in finding their present actual position. 
The marked trees were guides that told the whole story of their 
labors. For an hour and a half, however, we moved rapidly 
forward, Susquesus on the lead, silent, earnest, watchful, and 
I fear I must add, revengeful. Not a syllable had been uttered 
during the whole of that time, though our senses were keenly 
on the alert ; and we avoided every thing like a cover that 
might conceal an ambush. Suddenly the Indian halted ; at the 
next instant he was behind a tree. Each of us imitated him, 
quick as thought, for this was our previous training in the event 
of encountering an enemy ; and we all well knew the importance 
of a cover in forest warfare. Still, no foe could be seen. After 
examining around us in every direction, for a minute or two, 
and finding the woods vacant and silent as ever, Guert and I 
quitted our own trees, and joined the Trackless, at the foot of 
of his own huge pine. 

" Why this, Susquesus?" demanded the Albanian, sharply; 
for he began to suspect a little acting, got up to magnify the 
Indian's usefulness ; " here is neither pale-face nor red-skin. 
Have done with this folly, and let us go forward." 

" No good — warrior been here ; p'lhaps gone, p'rhaps no ; 
soon see. Open eye, and look." 



SATANSTOE. 419 

As a gesture accompanied tliis speech, we did look again, 
and tliis time in the right direction. At the distance of a hun- 
dred yards from us was a chestnut, that might be seen from 
its roots to its branches. On the ground, partly concealed by 
the tree, and partly exposed, was the leg of a man placed as the 
limb would be apt to lie, on the supposition that its owner lay 
on his back, asleep. It showed a moccasin, and the usual 
legging of an Indian ; but the thigh and all the rest of the frame 
was concealed. The quick eye of the Onondago had caught 
this small object, even at that distance, comprehended it at a 
glance, when he instantly sought a cover, as described, Guert 
and I had some difficulty at first, even after it was pointed out 
to us, in recogni2ing this object ; but it soon became distinct 
and intelligible. 

" Is that a red-skin's leg ?" asked Guert, dropping the muzzle 
of his rifle, as if about to try his skill on it." 

"Don't know," answered the Indian; "got leggin, got 
moccasin; can't see color. Look most pale-face ; leg big." 

AVhat there was to enable one, at that distance, to distinguish 
between the leg of a white man and the leg of an Indian, at 
first greatly exceeded our means of conjecturing ; but the 
Onondago explained it, when asked, in his own usual sententious 
manner, by saying : 

" Toe turn out — lujin turn in — no like, at all. Pale-fac.e 
big; Injin no very big." 

The first was true enough in walking, and it did seem prob- 
able that the difierence might exist in sleep. Guert now de- 
clared there was no use in hesitating any longer ; if asleep he 
would approach the chestnut cautiously, and capture the stran- 
ger, if an Indian, before he could rise ; and if a white man, it 
must be some one belonging to our own set, who was taking 
a nap, probably, after a fatiguing march. Susquesus must have 
satisfied himself, by this time, that there was no immediate 
danger ; for merely saying, " all go together," he quitted the 
cover, and led down toward the chestnut with a rapid but 
noiseless step. As we moved in a body all five of us reached 



420 SATANSTOE. 

the tree at the same instant, where we found Sam, one of onr 
own hunters, and whom we supposed to be with Mr. Traverse, 
stretched on his back, dead ; with a wound in his breast that 
had been inflicted by a knife. He, too, had been scalped ! 

The looks we exchanged, said all that could be said on the 
subject of the gravity of this new discovery. Snsquesus alone 
was undisturbed ; I rather think he expected what he found. 
After examining the body, he seemed satisfied, simply saying, 
" kill, last night." 

That poor Sam had been dead several hours was pretty cer- 
tain, and the circumstance removed all apprehension of any 
immediate danger from his destroyers. The ruthless warriors 
of the woods seldom remained long near the spot they had 
desolated, but passed on, like the toniado or the tempest. 
Guert, who Avas ever prompt when any thing was to be done, 
pointed to a natural hollow in the earth — one of those cavities 
that are so common in the forest, and which are so usually 
attributed to upturning of trees, in remote ages — and suggested 
that we should use it as a grave. The body was accordingly 
laid in the hole, and we covered it in the best maner we could ; 
succeeding in placing over it something like a foot deep of light 
loam, together with several flat stones, rolling logs on all, as we 
had done at the grave of Pete, By this time Guert' s feelings 
were so thoroughly aroused, that in addition to the prayer and 
the Creed, which he again repeated in a very decorous and de- 
vout manner, he concluded the whole ceremony by a brief 
address. Nor was Guert any thing but serious in what he did 
or said on either of these solemn occasions ; his words, like his 
acts, being purely the impulses of a simple mind, which pos- 
sesses longings after devotion and scriptural truths, without 
knowing exactly how to express them ; and this, moreover, in 
spite of the mere animal propensities, and gay habits of his 
physical conformation and constitutional tendencies. 

"Deaf, my friends," said Guert, most seriously, becoming 
Dutch as usual, as he became interested ; " Deat' is a sutten 
visitor. He comes like a t'ief in the night, as you must all 



SATANSTOE. 421 

have often hc'rt tlic Tomiuie say ; and happy is he whose loins 
are girtet and whose lamp is trimmed. Such I trust is the 
case with each of you, for it is not to be concealet that we arc 
likely to have serious work before us. Here have been Injins, 
beyont a question ; and they are Injins, too, that are out on 
the war-path in search of English scalps, or what is of equal 
importance to Mr. FoUock and myself, Dutch scalps in the par- 
gain ; which makes it so much the more necessary for every 
man to be on his guart, and to stant up to his work when it 
may come, as the pull-dog stants up to the ox. Got forpit t'at 
I should preach revenge over t'e grave of a frient ; but the sol- 
tier fights none the worse for knowing t'at he has been injuret 
in his feelin's, as has certainly peen the case with ourselves. 
Perhaps I ought to say a wort in behalf of the teat, as this is 
the last and only time that a fellow-creature will ever have 
occasion to speak of him. Sam was an excellent hunter, as his 
worst enemy must allow ; and now he is gone, few petter remain 
pehint. He had one weakness, which, stanting over his grave, 
an honest man ought not to conceal ; he dit love liquor ; but 
in this he was not alone. Nevertheless he was honest ; and 
his wort might pass where many a man's bond would be wort'- 
less ; and I leave him in the merciful hants of his Creator. My 
frients, I haf but little more to say, and that is this — that life is 
uncertain, and deaf is sure, Samuel has gone before us only a 
little while ; and may we all be equally preparet to meet our 
great account. Amen." 

Did any one smile at this address ? Far from it ! Singular, 
disconnected, and unsophisticated as it may seem to certain 
persons, it had one great merit that is not always discernable in 
the speeches of those who officiate at the most elaborate funer- 
al rites. Guert was sincere, though he might not be either 
logical or very clear. This was apparent in his countenance, his 
voice, his whole manner. For myself, I will allow I saw noth- 
ing particularly out of place in this address at the time, nor do 
I now regard it as either irreverent or unseasonable. 

We left the grave of the hunter, in the depths of that inter- 



422 SATANSTOE. 

minablc forest, as the ship passes away from the spot on the 
ocean where she has dropped her dead. At some future day, 
perhaps, the ploughshare may turn up the bones, and the hus- 
bandman ruminate on the probable fate of the lonely man, 
whose remains will then again be brought to the light of day. 
As we left the spot, the Indian detained us a moment, to put 
us on our guard. 

" Huron do that," he said meaningly. " No see difference, 
ch ? Saw no hang up like Pete ?" 

" That is true enough, Susquesus," Guert answered ; for 
Guert, by his age, his greater familiarity with the woods, his 
high courage and his personal prowess, had now assumed, unre- 
sistingly on our part, a sort of chieftainship over us. " Can 
you tell us the reason, however ?" 

" Muss, you call him, back sore — that all. Know him well; 
don't love flog. No Injin love flog." 

" And you think, then, Jaap's prisoner has had a hand in 
this, and that the war-path is open to revenge as well as public 
service — that we are hunted less for our scalps than to put a 
plaster on the Huron's back?" 

"Sartain. Tree canoe go by on lake — t'at Muss, you call 
liim — know him well. He no want sleep till back get well. 
See how he use nigger ! Hang him on tree — only kill pale- 
face and take away scalp." 

" Do you suppose that he made this difference in the treat- 
ment of his two captives, on account of the color ? That he 
was so cruel to Petrus because Jaap, another nigger, had flogged 
him ?" 

" Sartain — ^just so. Back feel better after t'at. Good for 
back to hang nigger. Jaap see, some time." 

I will do my fellow the justice to say, that in the way of 
courage, few men were his equals. As I have said before, he 
only feared spooks, or Dutch ghosts ; for the awe he had of me 
was so blended with love, as not to deserve the name of fear. 
In general, unless the weather happened to be cold, his face 
was of a deep, glistening black ; coflan-color, as the boys some* 



SATANSTOE. 423 

times called it ; but I observed, notwitlistanding his nerve and 
his keen desire to be revenged for the cruel treatment bestowed 
on his companion and brother, that his skin now assumed a 
grayish hue, such as is seen only in hard frosts, as a rule, in the 
people of his race. It was evident that the Trackless' s manner 
of speaking had produced an effect ; and I have always thought 
the impression then made on Jaap was of infinite service to us, 
by setting in motion, and keeping in lively activity, every 
faculty of his mind and body. I had a specimen of this, as we 
moved off, Jaap walking for some distance close at my heels, 
in order to make me the repository of his griefs and solicitude. 

"I hopes, Masser Corny, sah," commenced the negro, " you 
doesn't t'ink anyt'ing of what dis here Injin say ?" 

" I think, Jaap, it will be necessary for you to keep your 
eyes open, and by no means to fall into the hands of your friend 
Muss, as you call him, or he may serve you even worse than he 
served poor Pete. I hope, too, this will be a warning to you 
of the necessity of treating your prisoners kindly, should you 
ever make another. 

" I don't link, Masser Corny, you consider pretty much, sah. 
What good it do a nigger to captivate an Injin, if he let him 
go ag'in, and don't lick him little? Only little, Masser Corny. 
Ebery 'ting so handy too, sah — rope all ready, back bare, 
and feelin' up, like, after such a time in taking' 'e varmint, sah !" 

" Well, Jaap, what is done, is done, and there is no use in 
regretting it, in words. Of one thing, however, you may be 
certain ; no mercy will be shown yoM, should this fellow. Muss, 
be actually out here, on our heels, and should you be so unfor- 
tunate as to fall into his hands." 

The negro growled out his discontent, and I could see that 
his mind was made up to give stout battle, ere his wool should 
be disturbed by the knife of a savage. A moment later, he 
stepped aside, and respectfully permitted Dirck to take his 
proper place next to me in the line. 

We may have proceeded two miles from the spot where we 
had buried Sam, the hunter, when on rising a little hillock, the 



424 SATANSTOE. 

Indian tossed his ai-m, the sign that a new discovery was made. 
This time, however, the gesture was rather made in exultation 
than in horror. As he came to -a dead halt at the same instant, 
we all closed eagerly up, and got an early view of the cause of 
this exhibition of feeling. 

The ground fell away, in a sort of swell, for some distance in 
our front ; and the trees being all of the largest size, and totally 
without underbrush, the place had somewhat of the appearance 
of a vast forest edifice, to which the canopy of leaves above 
formed the roof, and the stems of oaks, lindens, beeches and 
maples, might be supposed to be the columns that upheld it. 
Within this wide, gloomy, yet not unpleasant hall, a sombre 
light prevailed, like that which is cast through the casements 
of an edifice of the ancient style of architecture, rendering every 
thing mellow and grave. A spring of sweet water gushed from 
a rock, and near it were seated, in a circle, Mr. Traverse and 
his two chain-bearers, seemingly taking their morning's meal ; 
or, rather, reclining after it, with the pail, platters and frag- 
ments before them ; like men reposing after appeasing their 
hunger, and passing a few minutes in idle talk. Tom, the sec- 
ond hunter and axe-man, lay asleep, a little apart. 

"Here has been even no alarm, thank Got," said Gucrt, 
cheerfully, and we are in time to let them know their danger. 
I will give the call ; it will soimd sweetly to their ears." 

"No call," said Trackless, quickly; " holla no good, now. 
Soon get there, and tell him in low voice." 

As this was clearly prudent, we pushed forward in a body, 
taking no pains, however, to conceal our approach, but making 
somewhat of a measured tread with our footsteps. A strange 
sensation came over me as we advanced, and I found that nei- 
ther of the surveyors stirred ! A suspicion of the dread truth 
forced itself on my mind ; but I can hardly say that the shock 
was any the less, when on getting near, we saw by the palUd 
countenances, fixed, glassy eyes and fallen jaws, that all our 
friends were dead. The savage ingenuity of Indians had propped 
the bodies in reclining positions, and thrown them into attitudes 



SATAN STOE. 425 

that had a horrible resemblance to the species of mJulgcncc 
that I have just described. 

"Holy heaven !" exclaimed Guert, dropping the butt of his 
rifle on the ground ; "we are too late !" 

No one else spoke. On removing the caps, it was found that 
each man had been scalped, and that all of those whom we had 
left a few days before, proud of their strength and instinct with 
iife, had departed in spirit, soon to be seen no more. Jumper, 
the other Indian, alone remained to be accounted for. Rifle- 
balls had been at work here, each of the four having been shot ; 
Mr. Traverse in no less than three places. 

I will confess that a suspicion of the Oneida crossed my 
mind now, for the first time ; and I did not scruple to mention 
it to my companions, as soon as either of us had power to speak 
or listen, 

" No true," said Trackless, positively. "Jumper poor Injin 
— that so — love rum — no rascal, to kill friend. Musohoeenah 
warrior to do so. Just like him. No ; Jumper fool — love rum 
— no bad Injin." 

Where, then, was Jumper? lie alone, of all whom we had 
left behind us, remained to be found. We made a long search 
for his body, but without success. Susquesus examined the 
trails, and the bodies, and gave it as his opinion that the sur- 
veyor and chain-bearers might have been killed about three or 
four hours ; and that the murderers, for such, in our eyes, they 
who had done the foul deed were to be accounted, had not 
been away from the place more than twenty minutes when we 
arrived. This might well have happened, and we not hear the 
rifles, as the distance from the hut was several miles ; and two 
hours before, we must not have been far from the place where 
we had passed the night. That the attack occurred after day- 
light was reasonably certain ; and as Pete was surely seized 
while alive, some intelligence might have been obtained from 
him, that directed the savages to the point where the outlying 
party would probably be expecting him. Nevertheless, this 
was pretty much conjecture, and we never knew which victim 



426 SATANSTOE. 

fell first, or wlictlicr tlie negro Avas taken at all near the spot 
where he was gibbeted. The infernal cruelty of his conquerois 
may have kept him as a prisoner, for some time before the final 
catastrophe, and caused them to carry him about Avith them as 
a captive, in order to subject the wretch to as much misery as 
possible, for as Susquesus said. Muss' " back very sore." 

We buried poor Traverse and his chain-bearers near the 
spring, using one of the same natural hollows in the earth, as 
that in which wc had interred the hunter. On a search, it was 
ascertained that their arms and ammunition had been carried 
off, and that the pockets of the dead men had been rifled. The 
American Indian is seldom a thief, in the ordinary sense of the 
term ; but he treats the property of those whom he slays as 
his own. In this particular he does not differ materially from 
the civilized soldier, I believe, plunder being usually considered 
as a legitimate benefit of war. The Hurons had laid their 
hands on the compass and chains, for wc could discover nei- 
ther ; but they had left the field-book and notes of Traverse, as 
things that, to them, were useless. In other respects, the visit 
of the savages to this fatal spot left the appearance of having 
been hurried. 

On this occasion Guert made no attempt at morals or elo- 
quence. The shock had disqualified us all for any thing of the 
sort, and we discharged our duties with the earnest diligence, 
and grave thoughtfulness of men who did not know but the 
next moment might bring themselves into the midst of a scene 
of deadly strife. We worked hard and a little hastily, and 
were soon ready to start. It was determined, on a hurried 
consultation, to follow the trail of the Hurons, as the most cer- 
tain method of surprising them on the one hand, and of pre- 
venting them from surprising us on the other. The Indian 
would have no difficulty in pursuing the very obvious trail that 
was left, and which bore all the proofs of having been left by a 
dozen men. 

The reader who is unacquainted with the usages of the Amer- 
ican savage, is not to suppose that this party had moved 



SATANSTOE. 427 

througli the forest in a disorderly group, regardless of the na- 
ture of the v^estiges of their passage left behind them. The 
native warrior never does that ; usually he marches in a line of 
single files, which has obtained the name of Indian file with us ; 
and whenever there are strong reasons for concealing his num- 
bers, it is his practice for each succeeding man to follow, as 
nearly as possible, in the footsteps of the warrior who precedes 
him ; thereby rendering a computation difficult, if not impossi- 
ble. In this manner our foes had evidently marched ; but Sus- 
quesus, who had been busy examining the marks around the 
spring, the whole time we were occupied in burying the dead, 
gave it as his opinion that our enemies could not number less 
than a dozen warriors. This was not very pleasing intelligence, 
since it would render success in a conflict next to hopeless. So, 
at least, I viewed the matter, though Guert saw things difierently. 
This highly intrepid man could not find it in his heart to aban- 
don the idea of driving foes so ruthless out of the country ; 
and I do believe he would have faced a hundred savages at 
once when we quitted the spring. 

The Onondago had no difficulty in following the trail, which 
led us, at first, for some distance in a line toward Ravensnest, 
then made a sudden inclination in the direction of the hut. It 
was probably owing to this circuit, and want of settled purpose 
in the Hurons, that we did not encounter them on our advance 
toward the "bloody spring," as the spot where Traverse was 
slain has been subsequently called. 

It was not long ere we found ourselves quite near our own 
trail, though, perhaps fortunately for us, we did not actually 
strike it. Had our movement been discovered, doubtless the 
enemy would have got into our rear, a position in which Indians 
are always most formidable. As it was, however, we possessed 
that great advantage ourselves, and pursued our way with so 
much the greater confidence, knowing full well that danger was 
only to be apprehended in our front, the quarter on which all 
our eyes were fixed. 

Although our return march was swift, it was silent as that of 



428 8ATANST0E. 

a train of mourners. Mourners we were, indeed, for it was not 
possible for liuman hearts to be so obdurate as to feel insensi- 
ble to the amount of misery that our late companions must have 
suffered, and to the suddenness of their fates. No one spoke, 
and Susqucsus had never found us so close on his heels as wo 
kept ourselves all that morning. The foot of the file-leader was 
scarcely out of its place, ere that of liis successor covered the 
same spot ! 

The trail led us quite close to the hut, which wc reached as 
near as might be to noon. On approaching the cabin, we used 
the utmost caution lest our enemies might then be in it, in 
ambush. The trail did not extend quite to the building, how- 
ever, but diverged in a westerly direction, from a point that 
may have been a hundred yards distant from our habitation, 
though in full view of it. Here we found the signs of a gather- 
ing of the party into a cluster, and we inferred that a counsel 
had been held on the subject of once more going to the hut or 
of turning aside to pursue some other object. Susquesus made 
a close examination at this spot, and gave it as his opinion 
again, that the hostiles must, at least, number the dozen he had 
already mentioned. Leaving us to watch the signs about our 
dwelling from covers wo took for that purpose, he followed the 
trail for half a mile, in order to make certain it did not approach 
the log-house on its opposite side. So far from this proving to 
be the case, however, he ascertained that it led off in a straight 
line toward Ravensnest. Tliis was, if any thing, more unpleasant 
news to Guert and myself, than if the Onondago had brought 
back a confirmation of his first suspicion that the Hurons might 
be waiting for us in our own temporary house. Complaints 
were useless, however, and we smothered our apprehensions as 
well as we could. 

Susquesus was not a warrior to confide entirely in the signs 
of an open march. Experienced woodsmen frequently left their 
trails visible expressly to deceive ; and the Onondago, who per- 
sonally know Muss, as Jaap called his prisoner, was fully aware 
that he had to deal with a profoundly artful foe. Not satisfied 



SATANSTOE. 429 

with even what he had seen, he cautioned us about quitting the 
cover, except under his guidance, and then commenced a mode 
of approach that was purely Indian, and which, in its way, had 
much of the merit of the approaches of more civilized besiegers, 
by means of their intrenchments and zigzags. Our advance 
was regulated in this way. Each man was told to select the 
nearest tree that led him toward the hut, and to pass from the 
old to the new cover, in as rapid and sudden a manner as his 
agility would allow. By observing this precaution, and by 
using great activity, we had got within twenty yards of the 
door of the cabin, in the course of ten minutes. Guert could 
not submit to this slow, and as he called it, unmanly procedure 
any longer ; but quitting his cover, he now walked straight and 
steadily to the door of the cabin, threw it open, and announced 
to us that the place was empty. Susquesus made another close 
examination around the building, and told us he felt quite cer- 
tain that the spot had not been visited since we had left it that 
morning. That was grateful intelligence to us all, since it was 
the only probable clue by which our enemies could have learned 
our return to the patent at all. 

The question now arose as to future proceedings. Nothing 
was to be gained by remaining on the property, while pmdcnce 
and the danger of our friends, united to call us away. We felt 
it would be a most hazardous thing to attempt reaching Raveu-s- 
nest ; though we felt it was a hazard we were bound to incur. 
While the matter was talked over, those among us who had 
any appetite, profited by the halt, to dine. An Indian on a 
war-path is equally ready to eat or to fast ; his powers of 
endurance both ways, more especially when the food is game, 
amounting to something wonderful. 

While Susquesus and Jaap, in particular, Avere performing 
their parts in a very serious manner in this way, and the rest of 
us were picking up a few rnorsels, more like men whose moral 
feelings checked their physical propensities, I caught a distant 
glimpse of a man's form, as it glided among the trees, at some 
distance from us. Surprise and awe were so strong in me, that 



430 SATANSTOE. 

I did not speak, but pointed with a finger eagerly in the neces- 
sary direction, in order to let the Onondago see the same object 
too. Susqucsus was not slow in detecting the stranger, how- 
ever ; for I think he must have seen him, even before he was 
descried by myself. Instead of manifesting any emotion, how- 
ever, the Onondago did not even cease to eat ; but merely 
nodded his head, and muttered, " Good — now hear news — 
Jumper come." 

Sure enough, it was Jumper ; and his appearance in the flesh, 
not only alive, but unharmed, produced a general shout among 
us as he came in, on such a long, loping gait, as usually marked 
a runner's movement. In a moment he was among us, calm, 
collected, and without motion. He gave no salutation, but 
seated himself quietly on a log, waiting to be questioned before 
he spoke ; impatience being a womanly weakness. 

" Jumper, my honest fellow," cried Guert, not without emo- 
tion, for joy was struggling powerfully with his organs of speech, 
" you are heartily welcome 1 These devils incarnate, the Hurons, 
have not injured yow, at least !" 

Liquor had rendered Jumper's faculties somewhat obtuse, in 
general, though he was now perfectly sober. He gave a sort of 
dull look of recognition at the speaker, and muttered his answer 
in a low, sluggish tone : 

"Plenty Huron," he said ; " clearin' full. Pale-face in fort 
send Jumper with message." 

We should have overwhelmed the fellow with questions, had 
he not unfolded a comer of his calico shirt, and exhibited 
several letters, each of which was soon in the hand of the indi- 
vidual to whom it was addressed. Guert, Dirck, and myself, 
severally got his communication ; while there was a fourth, in 
the handwriting of Herman Mordaunt that bore the superscrip- 
tion of poor Traverse's name. Subsequent events have placed 
it in my power to give copies of all the letters thus received. 
My own was in the following words : 

" My dearest father is so much occupied, as to desire me to 



8ATANSTOE. 431 

"write you tliis note. Mr. Bulstrode sent an express yesterday, 
who Avas bearer of the sad tidings frona Ticonderoga. He also 
announced his own approach ; and we expect him, in a horse- 
litter, this evening. Reports are flying about the settlement, 
that savages have been seen in our own woods. I endeavor to 
hope that this is only one of those idle rumors of which we 
have had so many lately. My father, however, is taking all 
necessary precautions, and he desires me to urge on 7jou the 
necessity of collecting all your party, should you be again at 
Mooseridge, and of joining us tvithout delay. We have heard 
of your safety, and gallant conduct, through the man sent for- 
ward by Mr. Bulstrode ; his master having heard of you all, 
safe in a canoe on the lake, the night after the battle, through 
a Mr. Lee ; a gentleman of great eccentricity of character, 
though, it is said of much talent, with whom papa happens to 
be acquainted. I trust this note will find you at your hut, and 
that we shall see you all, with the least possible delay. 

" Anneke." 

This certainly was not a note to appease the longings of a 
lover ; though I had infinite gratification in seeing the pretty 
characters that had been traced by Anne Mordaunt's hand, 
and of kissing the page over which that hand must have passed. 
But there was a postscript, the part of a letter in which a 
woman is said always to give the clearest insight into her true 
thoughts. It was in these words, viz. : 

** I see that I have underscored the 'me,' when I speak of 
papa's desire that /should write to you, in preference to another. 
We have gone through one dreadful scene in company, and I 
confess. Corny, I should feel far happier, if another is to occur, 
that yoti and yours should be with us here, behind the defences 
of this house, than exposed as you otherwise might be, in the 
forest. Come to us, then, I repeat, with the least possible de- 
lay." 



432 SATANSTOE. 

This postscript afforded nic far more satisfeclion tliau the body 
of the note ; and I was quite as ready to comply with Anneke's 
request, as the dear girl could be to urge it. Gucrt's lettei 
was as follows : 

" Mr. Mordaunt has commanded Anneke and myself to write 
to those of your party with whom he fancies each has the most 
influence, to urge you to come to Ravensnest as speedily as possi- 
ble. We have received most melancholy news ; and a panic 
prevails among the poor people of this settlement. We learn 
that Mr. Bulstrode, accompanied by Mr. Worden, is within a 
few hours' journey of us, and the families of the vicinity are 
coming to us, frightened and weeping. I do not know that I 
feel much alarmed myself; my great dependence is on a merci- 
ful Providence ; but the dread Being on whom I rely, works 
through human agents ; and I know of none in whom I can 
place more confidence than in Guei't Ten Eyck. 

"Mary Wallace." 

"By St. Nicholas! Corny, these arc such summonses as a 
man never hesitates about obeying," cried Guert, rising and 
beginning to replace his knapsack. " By using gi-eat diligence 
we may reach the Nest yet, before the family go to bed, and 
make not only them but ourselves so much the more comfortable 
and secure." 

Guert had a willing auditor in me ; nor was Dirck at all 
backward about complying. The letters certainly much quick- 
ened our impulses, though in fact there remained nothing else 
to do ; unless indeed, we intended to lie out, exposed to all 
the risks of a vindictive and savage warfare. Dirck' s letter was 
from Herman Mordaunt ; and it told the truth in plainer lan- 
guage than it had been related by either of the ladies. Here 
it is: 

"Dear Dirck — The savages are certainly approaching us, 
my young kinsman, and it is for the good of us all to unite 



PATANSTOK. 450 

our forces. Come in, for God's sake, with your whole party, 
as speedily as possible. I have had scouts out, and they have 
all come in with reports that signs of trails in the forest abound. 
I expect at least a hundred warriors will be upon us by to- 
morrow, and am mating my preparations accordingly. In ap- 
proaching the Nest, I would advise you to enter the ravine north 
of the house, and to keep within its cover until you get to its 
southern termination. This will bring you within a hundred 
yards of the gate, and greatly increase your chances of entering, 
should we happen to be invested when you get here. God 
bless you, dear Dirct, and guide you all safely to your friends. 

"Herman Mordaunt. 
"Eavensnest, July 11th, 1758." 

Guert and I read this letter hastily, before we commenced 
our march- Then, abandoning the hut and all it contained to 
the mercy of any who might pass that way, we set off for our 
point of destination on a quick step, carrying little beside our 
arms, ammunition, and the food that was necessary to assure 
our strength. 

As before, Trackless led, keeping the Jumper a little on his 
flank, the danger of encountering foes being now considered to 
be greatly increased. It was true, we were still in the rear of 
the party that had committed the deeds at Mooseridge ; but the 
Onondago no longer followed its trail, pursuing a different 
course, or one that led dh-ectly to his object. 
19 



434 8ATANSTOE 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

" My father had a daughter lov'd a man, 
As it might bo perhaps, were I a woman, 
I should your lordship." 

Vic LA. 

As the reader must by this time liavc a pretty accurate idea 
of our manner of marching in the wilderness, I shall not dwell 
on this part of our proceeding any longer. On we went, and 
at a rapid rate, the guide having abandoned the common route, 
which had got to he a pretty visible trail, and taking another 
on which, as it appeared to me, he had no other clue than an 
instinct. Guert had told Susquesus of the ravine, and how de- 
sirable it was to reach it, getting for an answer a quiet nod of 
the head, and a low ejaculation. It was understood, however, 
that we were to approach Herman Mordaunt's fortress by that 
avenue. 

It was past the turn of the day when Ave quitted Mooscndge, 
and none of us hoped to reach Ravensnest before dark. It fell 
out as we expected, night drawing its vail over the scene about 
half an hour before the Trackless plunged into the northern or 
forest end of the ravine. Thus far, we had got no evidence 
whatever of the proximity of foes. Our march had been silent, 
rapid and watchful, but it proved to be perfectly undisturbed. 
We knew, however, that the critical portion of it was still before 
us ; and just as the sun set we had made a halt, in order to look 
to our arms. It may now be well to say a word or two on the 
subject of the position of Herman Mordaunt's "garrison," as 
well as of the adjacent settlement. I call Ravensnest the " gar- 
rison," for that is the word which New York custom has long 
applied to the fortvqss itself, as well as those who defend it. 



SATANSTOE. 435 

Some critics pretend there is authority to justify the practice, 
and I see by the dictionaries that they are not entirely in the 
wrong. 

The Nest stood quite half a mile from the nearest point of 
the forest, a belt of trees that fringed the margin and which 
filled the cavity of the ravine, excepted. Near it, and in plain 
sight, was the heart of the settlement itself, which extended in 
an east and west direction, fully four miles. This area, how- 
ever, was cleared only in a settlement fashion, having patches 
of virgin forest scattered profusely over its surface. The mill- 
lot, as Jason's purchase was termed, lay at the most distant ex- 
tremity of the view, but as yet the axe had not been applied to 
it. I had remarked in my last visit to the place, that standing 
before Herman Mordaunt's door, something like a dozen log- 
cabins were to be seen at a time in different parts of the settle- 
ment, and that this number might have been increased to twenty 
by varying the observer's position. 

Of course, the whole of the open space was more or less dis- 
figured by stumps, dead and girdled trees, charred stubs, log- 
heaps, brush, and all the other unseemly accompaniments of 
the first eight or ten years of the existence of a new settlement. 
This period in the history of a country, may be likened to the 
hobbledehoy condition in ourselves, when we have lost the 
graces of childhood, without having attained the finished forms 
of men. 

Herman Mordaunt's settlement would have been thought a 
strong country in one sense, for a field fight, had there been 
men enough to contend with a hostile party of any force. But 
I had heard him say that he had but about seventeen rifles and 
muskets that could be in the least relied on, inasmuch as some 
of his people were Europeans and had no knowledge of fire- 
arms, while experience had shown that others on the occurrence 
of an alarm, invariably fled to the woods with their families, 
instead of rallying round the settlement colors. Such delin- 
quencies usually take place I believe, on all emergencies ; love 
of life bcmg even a stronger instinct than love of property- 



430 SATANSTOE. 

Here and tliere a sturdy fellow, however, would bar himself in, 
with a determination to go for the whole, under his own hark 
roof; and occasionally defences were made that would do credit 
to a hero. 

It should be apparent to those who have any accurate notion 
of savage warfare, that the ravine, being, as it was, the only 
wooded spot near Herman Mordaunt's fortress, would be the 
place of all others most likely to contain an enemy who made 
his approaches against a garrison by means of natural facilities 
alone. We were aware of this ; and Guert, who took an active 
command among us, as we drew near to danger, issued his 
commands for every man to be on the alert, in order that there 
might be no confusion. We were instructed as to the manner 
of proceeding the moment an alarm was given ; and Guert, who 
was a capital mimic, had previously taught us several calls and 
rallying signals, all of which were good imitations of the cries 
of diiferent tenants of the woods, principally birds. These sig- 
nals had their origin with the red man, who often resorted to 
them, and were said to be more successfully practised by our 
own hunters and riflemen than even by those with whom they 
originated. 

On entering the ravine the order of our march was changed. 
While Susquesus and Jumper were still kept in advance, Guert, 
Dirck, Jaap and myself moved abreast, and quite close together. 
The density of the foliage, and the deep obscurity that prevailed 
in the bottom of this dell-hke hollow, rendered this precaution 
necessary. It soon became so dark, indeed, that our only guide 
was the brook that gurgled along the bottom of the ravine, and 
which we knew issued into the open ground at its termination, 
to join a small river that meandered through some natural 
meadows to the westward of the Nest, but which in the lan- 
guage of the country was called a " creek." This abuse of good 
old English words, I am sorry to say is getting to be only too 
common among us ; yet I have heard Americans boast that we 
speak the language better than the mother country ! That we 
have no class among us that uses an unintelligible dialect, like 



SATANSTOE. 437 

that of Lancasliirc or Yorkshire, is true enough ; and that we 
have fewer persons who use decided vulgarisms in the way of 
false grammar than is the case in England, may be also accurate ; 
but it might be well for us to correct a great many faults into 
which we have certainly fallen, before we declaim with so much 
confidence about the purity of our English.* To return to the 
ravine. 

We had gone so far in the hollow, dark dell, as to have 
reached a point where the faint light of the open ground and 
the stars in the firmament became visible to us, when we sud- 
denly found ourselves alongside of the Trackless and Jumper. 
These Indians had halted ; for their quick, jealous, eagle-like 
glances had detected the signs of enemies. Nor was this dis- 
covery very diflScult to make, though some pains had actually 
been taken to conceal what was going on in our front. A party 
of some forty savages, every one of whom was in his war-paint, 
had lighted a fire beneath a shelving rock, and were gathered 
around it at supper. The fire had already done its duty, and 
was now merely smouldering, throwing a faint, flickering light 
on the dark, fierce features of the group that was clustered 
round. "We might have approached the spot in any other direc- 
tion, without seeing the danger in time to avoid it ; but a kind 
Providence had carried the two Indians directly to a point 
where the dying embers immediately caught their attention, and 
where they halted as has been said. I do not think we were 
more than forty yards from this fearful band of savages, when 
they first met my eye ; and hardened as I had certainly some- 

* It is nort/iern American to call a small " lake" a " pond," a small " river" a " creek," 
even though it should be an " outlet," instead of an " inlet," etc , etc. It is a more dif- 
ficult thing than is commonly supposed to make two great nations, each of which is 
disposed to innovate, speak the same language with precise uniformity. The Man- 
hattanese, who have probably fewer of the peculiarities of the inhabitants of a capi- 
tal than the population of any other town in the world of four hundred thousand souls, 
the consequences of a rapid growth, and of a people who have come principally from 
tlie country, are much addicted to introducing new significations for words, which 
arise from their own provincial habits. In Manhattanese parlance, for instance, a 
" square" is a " p.irk," or oven a " garden" is a " park." A promenade on the water is 
a "battery !" It is a pity tliat in this liuinor fur change, they have not thought of 
altering the complex and imitative name of their town. — Editok. 



438 8ATANSTOE. 

what become by the service and scenes I liad so lately gone 
through, I will confess that my blood was a little chilled at the 
sight. 

Our conference was in whispers ; there we stood, huddled 
together beneath a huge oak, the shade of which rendered the 
darkness that formed our only safeguard, so much the more 
intense. So close were we in fact, that even Jaap's body was 
in absolute contact with my own. Susquesus proposed making 
a detour by crossing the brook, which fortunately tumbled down 
some rocks at this point, making a very favorable noise, and 
thus pass our enemies, who would not probably end their meal 
until we had time to reach the "garrison," To this Guert 
applied his veto. He was of opinion, and I have always thought 
it was the decision of a man born to be a soldier, that we were 
exactly in the position we might desire to occupy in order to 
be of great service to the family, and to strike the enemy with 
a panic. By attacking, we should certainly surprise the party 
in our front, and might make such an impression as would 
induce them to abandon the settlement. Both Dirck and my- 
self coincided in this opinion, which even received the support 
of Jaap's voice. 

"Yes, sah! — yes, Masser Corny, now 'e time to wengcance 
poor Pete !" he muttered, and that rather louder than was 
thought quite prudent. 

As soon as the Trackless found how things were going, he 
and Jumper prepared for the conflict as coolly as any of us. 
Our arrangements were very simple, and were soon made. We 
were to deliver a single fire from the spot where we stood, shout, 
and charge with the knife and tomahawk. No time was to be 
wasted, however; and instead of remaining near the light, 
small as it was, we were to push for the mouth of the ravine, 
and thence make the best of our way, singly or in company, as 
the chance should offer, to the gate of Raven snest. In a mo- 
ment we were in open files, and had our orders. 

"Remember Traverse!" said Guert, sternly, — "remember 
poor Sam, and all our murterct frients !" 



SATANSTOE. 439 

The reader knows that Guert was apt to be very Dutch, wlien 
much excited. We did remember the dead ; and I have often 
thought, but never knew precisely, that each of us sacrificed a 
victim to the manes of our lost companions ot that stern occasion. 
Our rifles rang, or cracked would be the better word, almost 
simultaneously ; a yell arose from the savages around the fire ; 
our own shouts mingled with that yell, and forward we went, 
endeavoring to make our numbers appear as if we were a hun- 
dred. 

One retains but very indistinct notions of a charge like that, 
made as it was in the dark, beyond its general characteristics. 
We swept directly among the slain and wounded, and I heard 
Jaap deal one or two awful blows on the bodies ; but no one 
opposed us. A moment after we had passed the smouldering 
fire, three or four shot were discharged at us, but there was no 
sign of their telling on any of our party. The distance from 
the fire to the mouth of the ravine might have been a hundred 
yards ; and the external light, or lesser darkness may be a 
better expression, served us for a guide. Thither we pushed, 
fast as we could, though by no means in compact order. 

For this part of the afiair, I can only speak for myself. I saw 
men moving swiftly among the trees, and supposed them to be 
my companions ; but we had become separated, it being un- 
derstood that each man was now to shift for himself. As our 
rifles were discharged, and there was no time to reload them, 
there was little use, indeed, in any halt. Perceiving this, I did 
not issue from the ravine at the brook, but clinging more to its 
side, left it at a little height above the level of the adjacent 
plain. Here I paused to load, the cover being good, and the 
position every way favorable. While thus employed, I had 
time to look around me, and to ascertain the situation of things 
in the settlement, so far as the hour and the obscurity would 
permit. 

The plain was glimmering with the remains of a dozen large 
fires, the ruins of so many log-houses and barns. Their light 
amounted to no more than to render the darkness of the night 



440 SATANSTOE. 

distinctly visible, and to afford some small clews to the extent 
of the ravages that had been already committed. The house 
of Ravensnest, however, was untouched. There it stood, look- 
ing dark and gloomy ; for having no external windows, no other 
light was to be seen than a single candle, that was probably 
placed in a loophole as a signal. Profound stillness reigned in 
and around the building, producing a species of mystery that 
was in itself, under such circumstances, an element of force. 
There was not light enough to distinguish objects at any dis- 
tance, and having reloaded my rifle, I thought it wisest to make 
the best of my way to the gate. At that moment the stillness 
in my rear seemed to possess something affirmatively fearful 
about it. 

It was certainly a somewhat hazardous thing to break cover 
at such a moment, and under such circumstances ; but it was ~ 
absolutely necessary to incur its risks. My first leap carried me 
half-way doAvn the declivity, and I was soon on the level land. 
In my front were two men, one of whom seemed to me to be 
in the grasp of the other. As they were moving, though slow- 
ly, in the direction of the house, I ventured to ask, "Who goes 
there?" 

" Oh, Corny, my lad, is that you ?" answered Guert. " Got 
be praised ! you seem unhurt, and are just in time to help me 
along with this Huron, on whom I blundered in the dark, and 
have disarmed and captured. Give him a kick or a push, if 
you please, for the fellow holds back like a hog." 

I had too much knowledge of Indian vindictiveness, how- 
ever, to adopt the means recommended ; but seizing the captive 
by one arm while Guert held the other, we ran him up to the 
ahhattis that covered the gate of the "garrison" with very 
little difficulty. Here we found Herman Mordaunt and a dozen 
of his people all armed, ready to receive us. Tliey were in ex- 
pectation of our appearance, both on account of the hour, and 
on account of the clamor in the ravine, which had been dis- 
tinctly heard at the house. In less than a minute every body 
was in, safe and unharmed. The fact was, that our attack had 



SATANSTOE. 441 

been so sudden as to sweep every thing before it, and the enemy 
had not time to recover from his panic before we were all snug- 
ly housed. Once within the gates of Kavensnest, we ran no 
risks beyond those which were common to all such log for- 
tresses in the warfare of the wilderness. 

It would not be easy for a pen as unskilful as mine, to por- 
tray the change from the gloom of the ravine, the short, but 
bloody assault, the shouts, the rush, and the retreat of the outer 
world, to the scene of domestic security we found within the 
Nest, embellished, as Avas the last, by woman's loveliness and 
graces, and in many respects, by woman's elegance. Anneke 
and her friend received us in a bright, cheerful, comfortable 
apartment, that was rendered so much the more attractive by 
their tears and their smiles, neither of which were spared. I 
could see that both had been dreadfully agitated ; but joy re- 
stored their color, and brought back the smiles to their sweet 
faces. The situation of the place was such, perhaps, as to ren- 
der cheerfulness neither veiy lasting nor very lively ; but the 
tonderest female can find her heart suddenly so lightened from 
its burden of apprehensions, as to be able to seem momentarily 
happy even when environed by the horrors of war. Such, in a 
measure, was the character of the reception we now received, 
together with a thousand thanks for having so promptly answer- 
ed their letters in person. The dear creatures had the ingenui- 
ty not to seem to ascribe that prompt obedience to their own 
request which we had manifested, to any care for ourselves, but 
solely to a wish to oblige and protect them. The reader will 
understand that all explanations still remained to bo made, on 
both sides. These soon came, however, facts pressing them- 
selves on the attention, at such times, Avith a weight that is 
irresistible. The ice was broken by Herman Mordaunt's enter- 
ing the room, and speaking to us like one who felt that a great 
omission had been made. 

"We had closed the gate and set the look-out at the loops 
again," he said, "before I ascertained that all your party is not 
here. I see noriing of Traverse and his chain-bearers, nor of 



442 SATANSTOE. 

Sam or Tom, your hunters. Surely, they .are not left behind 
in the forest?" 

Neither of us three spoke. Our looks must have told the 
sad story, for Herman Mordaunt seemed to understand us on 
the instant. 

"No!" he exclaimed — "Can it be possible? Not all, 
surely !" 

" All, Mr. Mordaunt, even to my poor slave, Petrus," an- 
swered Gucrt, solemnly. " They were set upon, while dis- 
persed, I suppose, and have been murdered, while we were still 
absent on our expedition." 

The dear girls clasped their hands, and I thought Anncke's 
pallid lips moved, as if in prayer. Iler father shook his head, 
and for some time he paced the room in silence. Then rousing 
himself, like one conscious of the necessity of calmness and 
exertion, he resumed the discourse. ' 

"Thank God, Mr. Bulstrode reached us safely last cveniug, 
just after we dispatched the runner ; and he is beyond the reach 
of these demons for the present !" 

After this we were enabled to converse more connectedly, 
exchanging such statements as enabled each party to understand 
the precise condition of the other. We were then carried to 
Bulstrode's room, for he had expressed a desire to see us as 
soon as we could be spared. Our fellow-campaigner received 
us in good spirits, for one in his situation, speaking of the 
events in front of Ticonderoga sensibly, and without any attempt 
to conceal the mortification that he felt in common with the 
whole British empire. His hui-t was by no means a bad one ; 
likely to cripple him for a few weeks, but the leg was in no 
danger. 

"I have had the resolution and address. Corny, to work my 
way into good quarters, this unexpected siege excepted," he 
observed to me, when the others had withdrawn, leaving us 
alone. " This rivalry of ours is a generous one, and may now 
have fair play. If we quit this nest of Herman Mordaunt's 
without ascertaining the true state of Anncke's feelings, we 



SATAN8TOE. 443 

shall deserve to be condemned to celibacy for the remainder of 
our lives. There never were two such opportunities of wooing 
to advantage !" 

" I confess our situation does not strike me as being quite 
as favorable, Mr. Bulstrode," I answered. " Anneke must have 
too many apprehensions on her own account, and on account 
of others, to be as sensible to the tender sentiments of love, as 
might be tlie case in the peace and security of Lilacsbush." 

"Ah! It is very evident you know nothing of the female 
sex, Corny, by that remark. I will grant you that, unwoocd 
previously, and without any foundation laid, if I may express 
myself so irreverently, your theory might turn out to be true ; 
but not so under actual circumstances. Here is a young lady 
in her nineteenth year, who knows she is not only sought, but 
has long been ^sought, ay, warmly, ardently sought by two rea- 
sonably unobjectionable young men placed in the very situation 
to have all her sensibilities excited by one or the other, and 
depend on it, the matter will be determined within this blessed 
week. If I should prove to be the fortunate man, I hope to be 
able to manifest a generous sympathy ; and vice vci'sa, I shall 
expect the same. Though this sad, sad business before Ty has 
been a good preparative for humiliation." 

I could not avoid smiling at Bulstrode' s singular views of our 
suit ; but as Anneke was ever with me an engrossing theme, 
spite of our situation, which certainly was not particularly 
appropriate to love, I did not feel equal to quitting it abruptly. 
The matter was consequently pursued. As I asked Bulstrode to ex- 
plain himself, I got from him the following account of his theory. 

" Why, I reason in this wise, Corny. Anneke loves one of 
us two, beyond all question. That she loves^ I will swear ; her 
blushes, her beaming eyes, even her beauty is replete with the 
loveliness of the sentiment. Now, it is not possible that she 
should love any other person than one of us two, for the simple 
reason that she has no other suitor. I shall be frank with you, 
and confess that I think I am the favored fellow, while I dare 
sa}^ you are just as sanguine and think it is yourself." 



444 SATANSTOE. 

" I give yon my honor, Major Bulstrode, so presaming, so 
improper a thought has never " 

" Yes, yes — I understand all that. You are not worthy of 
Anne Mordaunt's love, and therefore have never presumed to 
imagine that she could bestow it on such a poor, miserable, 
worthless, good-for-nothing fellow as yourself. I have a great 
deal of the same very proper feeling ; but at the same time, 
each of us is quite confident of his own success, or he would 
have given up the pursuit long since." 

" I do assure you, Bulstrode, any thing but confidence min- 
gles with my feelings on this subject. You may have reasons 
for your own security, but I can boast of none." 

" I have no other than self-love, of which every man has a 
just portion for his own comfort and peace of mind. I say that 
hope is indispensable to love, and hope is allied "to confidence. 
My reasoning on these points is very simple. And now for 
the peculiar advantages we enjoy for bringing matters to a crisis. 
In the first place I am hurt, you will understand ; suffering 
under an honorable wound received in open battle, fighting for 
king and country. Then I have been brought fresh fi-om the 
field on my litter, into the presence of my mistress, bearing on 
my person the evidence of my risk, and I hope of my good 
conduct. There is not one woman in a thousand, if she hesi- 
tated between us, that would not decide in my favor on these 
grounds alone. You have no notion, Corny, how the hearts of 
these sweet, gentle, devoted, generous little American girls melt 
to sympathy, at the sufierings of a poor wretch that they know 
adores them ! Make a nurse out of a female, and she is yours, 
nine times out of ten. This has been a master-stroke of mine, 
but I hope you will pardon it. Stratagems are excusable in 
love, as in war." 

" I have no diflSculty in understanding your policy, Bulstrode ; 
though I confess to some in understanding your frankness. 
Such as it is, however, I trust you feel certain it will not be 
abused. Now as to my situation, what peculiar countervailing 
advantages do I enjoy ?" 



6ATANST0E. 415 

''Those of a defender. Oh, that is a battering-ram of itself! 
This confounded assault on the settlement, which they tell me 
is rather serious, and may keep alive apprehensions for some 
days yet, is a most unlucky thing for me, while it is of great 
advantage to you. A wounded man cannot excite one-half 
the interest he otherwise might, when there is a chance that 
others may be slain every minute. Then the character of a 
defender is a great deal ; and being a generous rival, as I have 
always told you, Corny, my advice is, to make the most of 
it. I conceal nothing, and intend to do all I can with my 
wound." 

It was scarcely possible not to laugh at this strangely frank, 
yet I fully believe strangely sincere communication ; for Bul- 
strode was a humorist, with all his conventionalism and London 
notions, and was more addicted to saying precisely what he 
thought, than is common with men of his class. After sitting 
and chatting with him half an hour longer on the subject of the 
late military operations, of which he spoke with both feeling and 
good sense, I took my leave for the night. 

'* God bless you, Corny," he said, squeezing my hand, as I 
left him; "improve the opportunity in your own way, for I 
assure you I shall do it in mine. It is present valor against 
past valor. If it were not my own case that was concerned, 
there is not a man living to wdiom I should more freely wish 
success." 

And I believe Bulstrode did not exceed the truth in his 
declarations. That I should succeed with Anneke, he did not 
think, as was apparent to me by his general manner, and the 
consciousness he must have possessed of his own advantages in 
the way of rank and fortune, as well as in having Herman Mor- 
daunt's good wishes. Oddly enough, in quitting my rival, and 
under circumstances so very peculiar, I was accidentally thrown 
into the presence of my mistress, and that too alone ! Anneke 
was the sole occupant of the little room in which the girls 
habitually staid, when I returned to it ; Guert having induced 
Mary Wallace to walk with him in the court, the only place the 



446 SATANSTOE. 

ladies now possessed for exercise ; wliiic Herman Mordaunt, 
Mr. Worden, and Dirck were together in the public room mak- 
ing some arrangement with the confused body of settlers who 
had crowded into the Nest, for the night-watch, I shall not 
stop to express the delight I felt at finding Anneke there ; nor 
was it in any degree diminished as I met the soft expression of 
her sweet eyes, and saw the blushes that suflfused her cheek. 
The conversation I had just held doubtless had its effect ; for I 
determined at once that so favorable an occasion for pressing 
my suit should not be lost. I was goaded on, if the truth must 
be told, by apprehension of Bulstrode's wound. 

What I said precisely, at the commencement of that inter- 
\'iew, is more than I could record, did I think it would redound 
Co my advantage, as I fear it would not ; but I made myself 
understood, which is more, I fancy, than happens to all lovers 
in such scenes. At first I was confused and a little incoherent, 
I suspect ; but feeling so far got the better of these defects as 
to enable me to utter what I wished to express. Toward the end, 
if I spoke in the least as warmly and distinctly as I felt, there 
must have been some slight touch of eloquence about my man- 
ner and language. This being the first occasion, too, on which 
I had ever had an opportunity of urging my suit very directly, 
there was so much to be said, so many things to be explained, 
and so many seemingly slighted occasions to account for, that 
Anneke had little else to do, for the first ten minutes, but to 
listen. I have always ascribed the self-possessiou which my 
companion was enabled to command during the remainder of 
this interview, to the time that was thus accorded her to rally 
her thoughts. 

Dear, precious Anneke! How admirably did she behave 
that memorable night ! It was certainly an extraordinary situa- 
tion in which to speak of love ; yet I much question if the 
feelings be not more likely to be true and natural at such times, 
than Avhen circumstances admit of more of the expedients of 
every-day life. I could see that my sweet listener was touched 
from the moment I commenced, and that her countenance be- 



SATANSTOE. 447 

trayed a tender interest in what I said. Presuming on this, or 
encouraged by her bhishes and her downcast eyes, I ventured 
to take a hand, and perceived I was not repulsed. Then it 
was that I found words that actually brought tears to my com- 
panion's eyes, and Anneke was enabled to answer me. 

"This is so unusual — so extraordinary a time to speak of 
such things, Corny," she said, "that I hardly know what ought 
to be my reply. Of one thing, however, I feel certain ; per- 
sons surrounded as we are, by dangers that may at any instant 
involve our destruction, have an unusual demand on them for 
sincerity. Affectation, T hope, I am never much addicted to, 
and prudery I know you would condemn. I have a feeling 
uppermost at this instant, that I Avish to express, yet scarce 
know how — " 

*' Do not suppress it, beloved Anneke ; be as generous as I 
am certain you are sincere. 

" Corny, it is this. I know we are in danger — very great 
danger of being overcome, captured, perhaps slain by the ruth- 
less beings who are prowling around our dwelling, and that no 
one in this house can count on a single day of existence, even 
with the ordinary vain security of man. Now should any thing 
befall you after this, and I survive you, I should survive for the 
remainder of my days to mourn your loss, and to feel the keen- 
est regrets that I had hesitated to own how much interest I 
have long felt in you, and how happy I have been with the 
consciousness of the preference that you so frankly and honestly 
avowed in my favor months ago." 

As the tears as well as blushes of Anneke accompanied these 
admissions, it was not possible for me doubt what I heard. 
From that moment a world of confidence, and a flow of pure 
sweet, strong, natural feeling bound us more and more closely 
together. Guert was in a happy mood to detain Mary Wallace, 
and business greatly befriended me, as respected the others. 
More than an hour had I Anne Mordaunt all to myself; and 
when the heart is open, how much can be uttered and under- 
stood on such a subject as love, in an hour of unreserved con- 



4-18 SATANSTOE. 

fidence and )f strong feeling ! Anneke admitted to me before 
we separated, that she had often thought of the chivalrous boy 
Avho had volunteered to do battle in her behalf, -when she \fa» 
little more than a chUd herself, and thought of him as a genei*- 
ous-minded girl would be apt to think of a lad under the cir- 
cumstances. This very early preference had been much quick- 
ened and increased by the affair of the lion, and our subsequent 
intercourse. Bulstrode, that formidable, encouraged rival, en- 
couraged by her father if not by herself, had never interested 
her in the least, beyond the feeling natural to the affinity of 
blood ; and I might have spared myself msmy hours of anxious 
concern on his account could I only have seen what was noAv 
so unreservedly told to me. Poor Bulstrode ! a feeling of com- 
miseration came over me, as I listened to my companion's 
assurances that he had never in the least touched her heart, 
while at the same time, blushing very red, she confessed my 
own power over it. An expression to this effect even escaped 
her aloud. 

"Have no concern on Mr. Bulstrode's account, Corny," An- 
neke answered, smiling archly, like one who had well weighed 
the pros and cons of the whole subject in her own mind ; "he 
may be a little mortified, but his fancy will soon be forgotten 
in rejoicing that he had not yielded to a passing inclination, 
and connected himself with a young, inexperienced American 
girl, who is hardly suited to move in the circles in which his 
wife must live. I do believe Mr. Bulstrode prefers me, just 
now, to any other female he may happen to know; but his 
attachment, if it deserve the name, has not the heart in it, dear 
Corny, that I know is to be found in yours. We women are 
said to be quick in discovering when we are really loved, and 
I confess that my own little experience inclines me to believe 
that the remark does us no more than justice. 

I then spoke of Guert, and expressed a hope that his sincere, 
obvious, manly devotion, might finally touch her heart, and 
that my new friend, toward whom, however, I began already to 
feel as toward an old friend, might finally meet with a return 



SATANSTOE. 449 

for a passion that I was persuaded was as deep and as sincere 
as my own ; a comparison that I felt was as strong as any I 
could make in Guert's hehalf. 

" On this subject, you are not to expect me to say much, 
Corny," answered Anneke, smiling. " Every woman is the 
mistress of her own secrets on such a subject ; and did I know 
fully Mary Wallace's mind or wishes in reference to Mr. Ten 
Eyck, as I do not profess to know either, I should not feel at 
liberty to betray her, even to you. I have no longer any secret 
of my own, as respects Corny Littlepage, but must not be 
expected to be as weak in betraying my whole sex, as I have 
been in betraying myself !" 

I was obliged to be satisfied with this sweet admission and 
with the knowledge that I had been long loved. When Anneke 
left me, which at the expiration of more than an hour, she insisted 
on doing, under the consciousness of all that had passed between 
us, I had a good deal of difficulty in believing that I was not 
dreaming. This ecclaircissement was so sudden, so totally un- 
expected I fancy to us both, that well might it so seem to 
either ; yet I fancy we did not part without a deep conviction 
that both were happier than when we met. I solemnly declare, 
notwithstanding, that I felt sorrow, almost regret, on behalf of 
Bulstrode. The poor fellow had been so evidently confident 
of success only an hour or two before, that I could not have 
acquainted him with my own success, had he been up, and able 
to prefer his own suit ; in his actual situation, such a procedure 
would have appeared brutal. 

As for Guert Ten Eyck, he rejoined me sadder and more 
despairing than ever. 

" It struck me, Corny, that if Mary Wallace had the smallest 
inclination in my behalf, she would manifest it at a moment 
when we may all be said to be hanging between life and deat'. 
I have often heard it said that the woman who would trifle with 
a young fellow at a ball, or on a sleigh-ride, and use him like 
a dog, while every one was laughing and making merry, would 
come round like one of the weathercocks on our Dutch barns. 



450 



SATANSTOE 



at a shift of tlie wind, the instant that distress or uiiliappincss 
alighted on her suitor. In other worts, that the very girl who 
would be capricious and uncertain, in happiness and prosperity, 
would suddenly become tender and truthful, as soon as sorrow 
touched the man who wished to have her. On the strength of 
this, then, I thought I would urge Mary, to the best of ray abili- 
ties, and you know they are no great matter. Corny, to give me 
only a glimmering of hope ; but without success. Not a syllable 
more could I get out of her than that the time was unseasonable 
to talk of such things ; and I do think I should be ready to go 
and meet these Huron devils, hand to hand, were it not for the 
fact that the very girl who thus remonstrated, staid with me 
quite two hours, listening to what I had to say, though I spoke 
of nothing else. There was a crumb of comfort in that, lad, or 
I do not understand human nature." 

There was truly. Still I could not but compare Anne Mor- 
daunt's generous confessions, under the influence of the same 
facts, and fancy that the prospects of the simple-minded, warm- 
hearted, manly young Albanian, were far less flattering than my 
own. 




<^^ 



8ATANST0E. 451 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

" Between two worida life hovers like a star, 

Twixt night and morn, upon the horizon's verge : 
How little do we know that which we are ! 

How less what we may be I The eternal surge. 
Of time and tide rolls on, and bears afar 

Our bubbles : as the old burst, new emerge, 
Lashed from the foam of ages ; while the graves 
Of empires heave but like some passing wave." 

Byron. 

It WcOS now announced by Herman Mordaunt in person, that 
the watch was set for the night, and that each man might seek 
his rest. The crowded state of the Nest was such as to render 
it no easy matter to find a place in which to sleep, straw being 
our only beds. At length we found our pallets, such as they 
were ; and spite of all that had passed that evening, truth com- 
pels me to admit that I was soon in a profound sleep. There 
was no exception to this rule among the Mooseridge party, I 
believe, fatigue proving to be more powerful than either suc- 
cessful love, unsuccessful love, or personal apprehension. 

It was about three o'clock when I felt a significant pressure 
of the arm, such as one gives when he especially wishes to 
attract attention. It was Jason Newcome, employed in awaken- 
ing the men of the house, without giving such an alarm as 
might reach the ears without. In a few minutes every body was 
up and armed. 

As the morning, just before the appearance of light, when 
sleep is heaviest, is the hour when savages usually attack, no 
one was surprised at these preparations, which were understood 
to be ordered by Herman Mordaunt, who was afoot, and on 
the look-out himself, at a place favorable to observation. In 
the mean time, we men, three or four-and-twenty in all, assem- 



452 SATAN STOE. 

bled in tlie court, in waiting for a summons to the gate, or the 
loop. Jason had executed his trust so dexterously, that neither 
female nor child knew any thing of our movement ; all sleeping, 
or seeming to sleep, in the security of a peaceful home. I took 
an occasion to compliment the ex-pedagogue and new miller, on 
the skill he had shown; and we fell into a low discourse, in 
consequence. 

" I have been thinking that this warfare may put a new face 
on these settlements. Corny," continued Jason, after we had 
conversed some little time, "more especially as to the titles." 

"I cannot see how they are to be affected, Mr, Newcorae, 
unless the French should happen to conquer the colony, a thing 
not very likely to happen," 

" That's just it ; exactly what I mean, as to principle. Have 
not these Hurons conquered this particular settlement ? I say 
they have. They are in possession of the whuU of it, this house 
excepted ; and it appears to me that if we ever get reposses- 
sion, it will be by another conquest. Now, what I want to 
know is this — does not conquest give the conquerors a right to 
the conquered territory ? I have no books here, yet ; but I'm 
dreadful forgetful, or I have read that such is the law." 

I may say that this was the first direct demonstration that 
Jason ever made on the property of Herman Mordaunt. Since 
that time he has made many more, some of which I, or he who 
may be called on to continue this narrative, will probably relate ; 
but I wish to record, here, this as the first in a long series of 
attempts which Jason Newcome has practised, in order to trans- 
fer the fee-simple of the mill-lot at Ravensnest, from the owner- 
ship of those in whom it is vested by law, to that of his own 
humble but meritorious person. 

I had little time to answer this very singular sort of reasoning ; 
for just then Herman Mordaunt appeared among us, and gave 
us serious duty to perform. The explanations with which his 
orders were preceded, were these. As had been anticipated, 
the Indians had adopted the only means that could prove efiec- 
tive against such a fortress as the Nest without the aid of artillery. 



SATANSTOE. 453 

They were making tlicir preparations to set tlie building on 
fire, and had been busy all night in collecting a large anaount 
of pine-knots, roots, etc., which they had succeeded in piling 
against the outer logs, at the point where one wing touched the 
cliff, and where the formation of the ground enabled them to 
approach the building without incurring much risk. Their 
mode of proceeding is worthy of being related. One of the 
boldest and most skilful of their number had crept to the spot, 
and posted himself so close to the logs as to be safe from ob- 
servation, as well as reasonably safe from shot. His associates 
had then extended to him one end of a long pole, they standing 
below, some on a shelf of the cliff, and the rest on the ground ; 
all being safe from harm so long as they kept close to their 
respective covers. Thus disposed, these children of the forest 
passed hours in patient toil, in forwarding by means of a basket, 
the knots, and other combustibles up to the warrior, who kept 
his position close under the building, and who piled them in 
the way most favorable to his object. 

Susquesus had the merit of discovering the projected attempt, 
the arrangements for which had completely escaped the vigi- 
lance of the sentinels. It would seem that the Onondago, 
aware of the artifices of the red man, and acquainted in par- 
ticular with the personal character of Jaap's friend. Muss, did 
not believe the night would go by without some serious attempt 
upon the house. The side of the cliff was much the weakest 
point of the fortress, having no other protection than the natu- 
ral obstacle of the rocks — which were not inaccessible, though 
somewhat difiicult of ascent — and the low picketing already 
mentioned. Under such circumstances, the Indian felt certain 
the assault would be made on that side. Placing himself on 
watch, therefore, he discovered the first attempts of the Hurons, 
but did not let them be known to Herman ilordaunt until they 
were nearly completed ; his reason for the delay being the im- 
patience of the pale-faces, which would not have suffered the 
enemy to accomplish his object, so far as preparations were 
concerned — the thin<j of all others he himself thoua;ht to be the 



454 SATANSTOE. 

most desirable. By allowing the Hurons to waste their time 
and strength in making arrangements for an assault that was 
foreseen, and which might be met and defeated, a great advan- 
tage was obtained ; whereas, by driving them prematurely from 
an artifice they were known to be engaged in, they Avould have 
recourse to another, and the difficulty of discovery would be 
added to our other disadvantages. So Susquesus reasoned, as 
was said at the time ; and it is certain that so he acted. 

But the time had come to meet these covert preparations. 
Herman Mordaunt now held a consultation on the subject of 
our proceedings. The question submitted was, whether we 
ought to let the Hurons go any further ; whether we should 
shoot the adventurous savage who was known still to be posted 
under the logs of the house, and scatter his pile of knots by a 
sortie; or whether it were wiser to let the enemy proceed to 
the extremity of actually lighting his fire, before we unmasked. 
Something was to be said in favor of each plan. By shooting 
the savage who had made a lodgment under our walls, and 
scattering his pile, we should unquestionably defeat the present 
attempt ; but in all probability another would be made on the 
succeeding night ; whereas by waiting to the last moment, such 
an effectual repulse might be given to our foes, as would at once 
terminate their expedition. 

On consultation, and weighing all the points as they offered, 
it was decided to adopt the latter policy. But one spot com- 
manded a view of the pile at all, and that was a loop that had 
been cut only the day before, and which looked directly down 
on the place, from a projection that existed in the second story, 
and which ran around the whole building. These projections 
were common enough in the architecture of the provinces at 
that day, being often adopted in exposed positions purposely to 
afford the means of protecting the inferior and external portions 
of the dwellings. The Nest possessed this advantage, though 
the loops necessary to complete the arrangement, had only quite 
recently been cut. At this loop, then, I stationed myself for a 
short time, watching what was going on below. The night was 



SATAN 8T0E. 455 

dark, but there was no difficulty in distinguishing the pile of 
knots, which to me seemed several feet high, besides being 
of some length, or in noting the movements of the Indian 
•who had built it. At the moment I took my stand at the 
loop, this man was actually engaged in setting fire to his com- 
bustibles. 

For several minutes Guert and I watched our enemy while he 
was thus employed, for the Huron was obliged to proceed with 
the utmost caution, lest a light prematurely shed around should 
betray him. He cautiously lighted his knots quite within the 
pile, having left a place for that purpose ; and his combustibles 
were well in flames before the latter began to throw their rays 
to any distance. We had a quantity of water provided in the 
room from which we beheld all these movements, and might at 
any time have extinguished the fire by pouring a stream through 
our loop, provided we did not wait too long. But Guert object- 
ed to " spoiling the sport," as he called it, insisting that the 
logs of the house would be slow to ignite, and that we might at 
any moment scatter the knots, by a rapid sortie. His wish was, 
to let the enemy proceed in his designs as far as would be at all 
safe, in order to render his defeat more overwhelming. 

Owing to our position, directly over his head, we had no 
chance to see the face of the incendiary while he was thus 
engaged. At length he cast a glance upward as if to note the 
effect of the flames, which were beginning to throw their forked 
tongues above the pile, when we both recognized Jaap's prison- 
er, Muss. The sight proved too much for Guert's philosophy, 
and thrusting the muzzle of his rifle through the loop, he blazed 
away at him without much regard to aim. This report was a 
sort of signal for action, the whole house, and all the outer 
world appearing to be in a clamor in an instant. I had n'j 
means of seeing Muss, but some of our look-outs, who had 
him in view most of the time, told me, after all was over, that 
the fellow seemed much astonished at the suddenness of this 
assault ; that he gazed up at the loop an instant, uttered a loud 
exclamation, then yelled the war-whoop at the top of his voice, 



456 SATANSTOE. 

and went bounding off into tlic dartncss, like a buck put up 
unexpectedly from liis lair. The fields all around tlie Nest 
seemed to be alive with whooping demons. Herman Mordaunt 
had done little toward embellishing the place ; and stumps were 
standing in hundreds all about it, many having been left within 
twenty yards of the buildings. It now seemed as if every one 
of these stumps had an Indian warrior lodged behind it ; while 
bands of them appeared to be leaping about in the gloom 
under the rocks. At one time I fancied we must be sur- 
rounded by hundreds of these ruthless foes, though I now suppose 
that their numbers were magnified by their activity and their 
infernal yells. They manifested no intention to attack, never- 
theless, but kept screaming around us in all directions, occasion- 
ally discharging a rifle, but as a whole, waiting the moment 
when the flames should have done their work. 

Considering the fearful circumstances in which he was placed, 
Herman Mordaunt was wonderfully collected. For myself, I 
felt as if I had fifty lives to lose, Anneke being uppermost in 
my thoughts. The females, however, behaved uncommonly 
well ; making no noise, and using all the self-command they 
could assume, in order not to distract the exertions of their hus- 
bands and friends. Some of the wives of the sturdy settlers 
indeed actually exhibited a species of stern courage that would 
have done credit to soldiers ; appearing in the court armed, and 
otherwise rendering themselves useful. It often happened that 
women of this class, by practising on deer, and wolves, and 
bears, got to be reasonably expert with fire-arms, and did good 
service in attacks on their dwellings. I remarked in all the 
commoner class of females that night, a sort of fierce hostility 
to their savage foes, in whom they doubtless saw only the mur- 
derers of children, and wretches who made no distinction of 
sex or age, in pursuing their heartless warfare. Many of them 
appeared like the dams of the inferior animals when their young 
were in danger. 

An interval of ten or fifteen minutes must have occurred be- 
tween the moment when Guert discharfrcd his rifle and that in 



SATANSTOE. 457 

which the battle really began. All this time the fire was gathering 
head, our tardy attempts to extinguish it proving a complete 
failure. But little apprehension was felt on this account, how- 
ever, the flames proving an advantage, by casting their light 
far into the fields, and even below the rocks, while they did 
not reach the court at all ; thus placing a portion of the enemy, 
should they venture to attack, under a bright light, while it left 
us in darkness. The only point, however, at which we could 
fear a serious assault, was on the side of the rocks, where the 
court had no other protection than the low, but close and toler- 
ably strong picket. Fortunately, the formation of the ground 
on that side prevented one who stood on the meadows below 
from firing into the court from any point within the ordinary 
range of the rifle. It was this circumstance that had de- 
termined the site of the garrison. 

Such was the state of things when Anneke's own girl came to 
ask me to go to her mistress, if it were possible for me to quit my 
station, were it only for a minute. Having no particular duty to 
perform, there was no impropriety in complying with a request 
which, in itself, was every way so grateful to my feelings. 
Guert was near me at the time, and heard what the young 
negress^aid ; this induced him to inquire if there was no mes- 
sage for himself ; but even at that serious moment, Mary Wal- 
lace did not relent. She had been kinder than common in 
manner, the previous night, as the Albanian had admitted ; 
but at the same time, she had appeared to distrust her own 
resolution so much as even to give less direct encouragement 
than had actually escaped her on previous occasions. 

I found Anneke expecting me in that little parlor where I 
had recently listened to her confessions of tenderness the eve- 
ning before. She was alone, the instinct of her sex teaching 
her the expediency of ha\dng no witness to the feelings and lan- 
guage that might escape two hearts that were united as were 
ours, under circumstances so trying. The dear girl was pale 
as death when I entered ; she had doubtless been thinking of 
the approaching conflict and of what might be its frightful con- 
20 



468 SATANSTOE. 

sequences ; but my presence instantly caused her face to be 
suffused with blushes, it being impossible for her sensitive mind 
not to revert to what had so lately occurred. This truth to 
the instinctive principle of her nature could hardly be extin- 
guished in woman, even at the stake itself. Notwithstanding 
the liveliness and varying character of her feelings, Anneke was 
the first to speak. 

"I have sent for you. Corny," she said, laying a hand on 
her heart, as if to quiet its throbbings, " to say one word in 
the way of caution — I hope it is not wrong." 

*' You can do nothing wrong, beloved Anneke," I answered ; 
" or nothing that would seem so in my eyes. Be not thus 
agitated. Your fears have increased the danger, which wc 
consider as trifling. The risks Guert, Dirck and myself have 
already run, are tenfold those which now beset us." 

The dear girl submitted to have an arm of mine passed around 
her waist, when her head dropped on my breast, and she burst 
into tears. Enabled by this relief to command her feelings i. 
little, it was not long ere Anneke raised herself from the en- 
dearing embrace I felt impelled to give her, though still per 
mitting me to hold both her hands ; and she looked up into 
my face with the full confidence of aff"ection, renewing the dis- 
course. 

"I could not svifter you to engage in this terrible scene, 
Corny," she said, " without one word, one look, one sign of 
the interest I feel in you. My dear, dear father has heard all ; 
and though disappointed, he does not disapprove. You know 
how warmly he has wished Mr. Bulstrode for a son, and can 
excuse that preference ; but he desired me not ten minutes since, 
as he left me, after giving me his kiss and his blessing, to send 
for you and say that he shall hereafter look upon you, as my 
and his choice. Heaven alone knows whether we are to le 
permitted to meet again, dear Corny ; but should that never be 
granted us, I feel that it will relieve your mind to know that 
wc shall meet as the members of one family." 

" We are the only children of our parents, Anneke, and our 



SATANSTOE. 459 

union will gladden their hearts almost as much as it can gladden 
our own." 

" I have thought of this already. I shall have a mother, now ; 
a blessing I hardly ever knew." 

"And one that will dearly, dearly love you, as I tnow by 
her own opinions, again and again expressed in my presence." 

" Thank you. Corny — and thanks to that respected parent, 
too. Now go, Corny; I am fearful this selfish gratification 
only adds to the danger of the house — go ; I will pray for your 
safety." 

" One word, dearest ; — poor Guert ! — you cannot know how 
disappointed he is, that I alone should be summoned here at 
such a moment." 

Anneke seemed thoughtful, and it struck me she was a little 
distressed. 

" What can I do to alter this ?" she said, after a short pause. 
A woman's judgment and her feelings may not impel her the 
same way ; then Mary Wallace is a girl who appreciates pro- 
priety so highly !" 

" I understand you, Anneke. But Guert is of so noble a 
disposition, and acknowledges all his defects so meekly, and 
with so much candor. Man cannot love woman better than he 
loves Mary Wallace. Her extreme prudence is a virtue in his 
eyes, even while he suffers by it." 

"I cannot change Mary Wallace's nature, Corny," said 
Anneke, smiling sadly, and, as I fancied, in a way that said 
"Were it I, the virtues of Guert should soon outweigh his 
defects ;" " but Mary will be Mary, and we must submit. Per- 
haps to-morrow may bring her wavering mind to something 
like decision ; for these late events have proved greatly Mr. Ten 
Eyck's friends. But Mary is an orphan, and prudence has been 
taught her as her great protection. Now go, Corny, lest you 
be missed." 

The dear girl parted from me hurriedly, but not without 
strong manifestation of feeling, I folded her to my heart ; that 
being no moment for aff'ectations or conventional distance ; and 



460 SATANSTOE. 

I know / was, while I trusted Anneke miglit be, none tlie less 
happy for remembering we had exchanged these proofs of 
mutual attachment. 

Just as I reached the court, I heard a yell without, which my 
experience before Ty had taught me was the whoop the Hurons 
give when they attack. A rattling fire succeeded, and we were 
instantly engaged in a hot conflict. Our people fought under 
one advantage, which more than counterbalanced the disadvan- 
tage of their inferiority in numbers. While two sides of the 
buildings, including that of the meadows, or the one on which 
an assault" could alone be successful, were in bright light, the 
court still remained sufficiently dark to answer all the purposes 
of defence. We could see each other, but could not be distin- 
guished at any distance. Our persons, when seen from without, 
must have been confounded too, with the waving shadows of 
the pickets. 

As I approached the pickets, through the openings of which 
our people were already keeping up a dropping fire on the dark- 
looking demons who were leaping about on the meadows below, 
I learned from Herman Mordaunt himself, who received me 
by an affectionate squeeze of the hand, that a large body of the 
enemy was collected directly under the rocks, and that Guert 
had assumed the duty of dislodging them. He had taken with 
liim, on this service, Dirck, Jaap, and three or four more of 
the best men, including both of our Indians. The manner in 
which he proposed to effect this object was bold, and like the 
character of the leader of the party. As so much depended on 
it, and on its success, I will explain a few of its more essential 
details. 

The front of the house ranged north and south, facing west- 
ward. The two wings consequently extended east and west. 
The fire had been built at the verge of the cliflf, and at the north- 
east angle of the building. This placed the north and east 
sides of the square in light, whUe it left the west and south in 
deep darkness. The gate opening to the west, it was not a 
very hopeless thing to believe it practicable to lead a small party 



SATANSTOE. 461 

round the south-west angle of the house, to the verge of the 
cliff, where the formation of the ground would allow of a volley's 
being given upon those savages who were believed to be mak 
ing a lodgment directly beneath our pickets, with a view of 
seizing a favorable moment to scale them. On this errand, 
then, Herman Mordaunt now gave me to understand my friends 
had gone. 

"Who guards the gate, the while?" I asked, almost in 
stinctively. 

" Mr. Worden, and your old acquaintance and my new ten- 
ant, Newcome. They are both armed, for a parson will not 
only fight the battles of the spirit, but he will fight those of the 
field, when concerned. Mr. Worden has shown himself a man 
in all this business." 

Without replying, I left Herman Mordaunt, and proceeded 
to the gate myself, since there was Uttle to be done in the court. 
There we were strong enough ; stronger perhaps than waa 
necessary ; but I greatly distrusted Guert's scheme, the guard 
at the gate, and most of all the fire. 

I was soon at Mr. Worden' s side. There the reverend gen- 
tleman was, sure enough, with Jason Newcome at his elbow. 
Their duty was, to keep the gate in that precise condition in 
which it could be barred, or unbarred, at the shortest notice, 
as friends or foes might seek admission. The parties appeared 
to be fully aware of the importance of the trust they filled, and 
I asked permission to pass out. My first object was the fire, 
for it struck me Herman Mordaunt felt too much confidence in 
his means of extinguishing it, and that our security had been 
neglected in that quarter. I was no sooner outside the buUd- 
ings, therefore, than I turned to steal along the wall to the 
north-west corner, where alone I could get a view of the danger- 
ous pile. 

The brightness of the glare that was gleaming over the fields 
and stumps that came within the compass of the light from the 
fire, added to my security by the contrast, though it did not 
tell well for that particular source of danger. The dark stumps, 



462 SATANSTOE. 

many of wLich were charred by the fires of tlie clearing, and 
were absolutely black, seemed to be dancing about in the fields, 
under the waving light, and twice I paused to meet imaginary 
savages ere I had gained the corner of the house. Each alarm, 
however, was idle, and I succeeded in obtaining the desired 
view. Not only were the knots burning fiercely, but a large 
sheet of flame was clinging to the logs of the house, menacing 
us with a speedy conflagration. The danger Avould have been 
greater, but a thunder-shower had passed over the settlement 
only an hour before we were alarmed, and coming from the 
north, all that side of the house had been well drenched with 
rain. This occurred after "Muss" had commenced his pile, or 
he might have chosen another side of the building. The deep 
obscurity of that gust, however, was probably one of the means 
of his success. He must have been at work during the whole 
continuance of the storm. 

I was not absent from the gate two minutes. That brief 
space was sufficient for my first purpose. I now desired Jason 
to enter the court and to tell Herman Mordaunt not to delay a 
moment in applying the means for extinguishing the flames. 
There was greater danger from them than there possibly could 
be from any other attack upon the pickets, made in the dark- 
ness of the morning. Jason was cool by temperament, and he 
was a good agent to be employed on such a duty. Promising 
to be quick, he left us, and I turned my face toward Guert and 
his party. As yet, nothing had been heard of the last. This 
very silence was a source of alarm, though it was diflBcult to 
imagine the adventurer had met with an enemy, since such a 
collision must have been somewhat noisy. A few scattering 
shot, all of which came from the west side of the buildings, and 
the flickering light of the fire, were the only interruptions to 
the otherwise deathlike calm of the hour. 

The same success attended me in reaching the south-west 
as in reaching the north-west angle of the house. To me it 
seemed as if the savages had entirely abandoned the fields in my 
vicinity. When I took my stand at this corner of the build- 



SATAN S TOE. 463 

ing, I found all its southern side in obscurity, tliougb. sufficient 
light was gleaming over the meadows to render the ragged 
edges of the cliff visible in that direction. I looked along the 
log walls to this streak of light, but could sec no signs of my 
friends. I was certain they were not under the house, and 
began to apprehend some serious indiscretion on the part of the 
bold Albanian. While engaged in endeavoring to get a clew 
to Guert's movements, by devouring every dark object I could 
perceive with my eyes, I felt an elbow touched lightly, and saw 
a savage in his half-naked, fighting attire at my side. I could 
see enough to ascertain this, but could not distinguish faces. I 
was feeUng for my hunting-knife, when the Trackless's voice 
etayed my hand. 

"He wrong," said the Onondago, with emphasis. "Head 
too young — hand good — heart good — head very bad. Too 
much fire — dark here — much better." 

This characteristic criticism on poor Guert's conduct served 
to tell the whole story. Guert had put himself in a position in 
which the Onondago had refused to remain ; in other words he 
iiad gone to the verge of the clift', where he was exposed to the 
light of the fire, and where he was necessarily in danger of being 
seen. Still, no signs of him were visible, and I was on the 
point of moving along the south side of the building to the 
margin of the rocks, when the Trackless again touched my arm, 
and said "There!" 

There our party was, sure enough ! It had managed to reach 
the verge of the rocks at a salient point, which placed them in 
an admirable position for raking the enemy, who were supposed 
to be climbing to the pickets with a view to a sudden spring, but 
at a dangerous distance from the buildings. The darkness had 
been the means of their reaching that point, which was about a 
hundred yards from the spot where I had expected to find them, 
and admirably placed for the intended object. The whole pro- 
cedure was so much like Guert's character, that I could not but 
admire its boldness, while I condemned its imprudence. There 
was, however, no time to join the party, or to warn its leader 



464 SATANSTOE. 

of tlie risks he ran. We, who stood so fiir iii the rear, could see 
and fully appreciate all the danger, while he probably did not. 
There the whole party of them stood, plainly though darkly 
drawn in high relief against the light beyond, each poising his 
rifle and making his disposition for the volley. Guert was near- 
est to the verge of the rocks, actually bending over them ; Dirck 
was close at his side ; Jaap just behind Dirck ; Jumper close at 
Jaap's elbow ; and four of the settlers, bold and hardy men, 
behind the Oneida. 

I could scarcely breathe for painful expectation, when I saw 
Guert and his companions thus rising from the earth, bringing 
their entire figures in front of the background of light. I could 
have called out to warn them of the danger they ran ; but it 
Avould have done no good, nor was there time for remonstrances. 
Guert must have felt he occupied a dangerous position, and 
what he did was done very promptly. Ten seconds after I saw 
the dark forms, all their rifles were discharged as it might be 
at a single crack. One instant passed in deathlike stillness, 
through all the fields, and in the court ; then came a volley 
from among the stumps, at a little distance from our side of the 
building, and the adventurers on the rocks, or those that could, 
rushed toward the gate. Two of the settlers, however, and the 
Oneida, I saw fall myself The last actually leaped upward 
into the air, and went down the cliff". But Guert, Dirck, 
Jaap, and the other two settlers had moved away. It was at 
that moment that my ears were filled with such yells as I had 
not supposed the human throat could raise, and all the fields on 
our side of the house seemed alive with savages. To render 
the scene more appalling, that was the precise instant when 
the water, previously provided by Herman Mordaunt, fell upon 
the flames, and the light vanished almost as one extinguishes a 
candle. But for this providential coincidence, there was scarce 
a chance for the escape of one of the adventurers. As it was, 
rifle followed rifle from among the stumps, though it was no 
'onger with any certain aim. 

The battle had now become a melee. The savages went 



SATANSTOE. 465 

leaping and whooping forward in the darkness, and heavy blows 
were given and taken. Guert's clear, manly voice was heard 
rising above the clamor, encouraging his companions to press 
through the throng of their assailants, in tones fall of confidence. 
Both the Trackless and myself discharged our rifles at the fore- 
most of the Hurons, and each certainly brought down his man, 
but it was not easy to see what we could do next. To stand 
aloof and see my friends borne down by numbers was impossible, 
however, and Susquesus and myseh' fell upon the enemy's rear. 
This charge of ours had the appearance of a sortie, and it pro- 
duced a decided eflfect on the result, opening a passage by which 
Dirck and the two settlers issued from the throng and joined us. 
This was no sooner done than we all had to stand at bay, re- 
treating httle by little as we could. The result would still have 
been doubtful, even after we had succeeded in reaching the 
south-western angle of the building, had it not been for a for- 
ward movement on the part of Herman Mordaunt, at the head 
of half a dozen of his settlers. This reinforcement came into 
the affair with loaded rifles, and a single discharge, given as 
soon as we were in a Une with our friends, caused our assail- 
ants to vanish as suddenly as they had appeared. On reflecting 
on the circumstances of that awful night, in after-life, I have 
thought that the force in the rear of the Ilurons began to melt 
away, even before Hennan Mordaunt' s support was received, 
leaving their front weak and unsustained. At any rate, the 
enemy fled to their covers, as has just been related, and we 
entered the gate in a body, closing and barring it as soon as 
possible. 

I can scarcely describe the change that had come over the 
appearance of things in that eventful night. The fire was ex- 
tinguished, even to the embers, and deep darkness had succeeded 
to the glimmering, waving red light of the flames. The yells, 
and whoops, and screams, and shouts — for our men had fre- 
quently thrown back the defiance of their foes in cheers — were 
done ; a stillness as profound as that of the grave reigning over 
the whole place. The wounded seemed ashamed even to 



466 SATANSTOE. 

groan ; but our hurt, of whom there were four, went into the 
house to be cared for, stem and silent. No enemy was any 
longer to be apprehended beneath the pickets, for the strealc 
of morning Avas just appearing above the forest, in the cast, 
and Indians rarely attack under the light of day. In a word, 
that night at least was passed, and we were yet protected by 
Providence. 

Herman Mordaunt now bethought him of ascertaining his 
precise situation, the extent of his own loss, and as far as possi- 
ble of that which we had inflicted on the enemy. Guert was 
called for to aid in this inquiry, but no Guert was to be found ! 
Jaap, too, was absent. A muster was had, and then it was 
found that Guert Ten Eyck, Jaap Satanstoe, Gilbert Davis 
and Moses Mudge were all wanting. The Jumper, too, did 
not appear ; but I accounted for him, and for the two settlere 
named, having actually seen them fall. Day returned to ns 
slowly, while agitated by the effect of these discoveries ; but it 
brought no relief. AVe soon ventured to reopen the gates, 
knowing no Indian would remain very near the building while 
it was light ; and having examined all the dangerous covers, 
Ave passed outside the court with confidence, in quest of the 
bodies of our friends. Not an Indian was seen, Jumper excepted. 
The Oneida lay at the foot of the rocks, dead, and scalped ; as 
did Davis and Mudge on the summit. Every thing else human 
had disappeared. Dirck was confident that six or seven of the 
Hurons fell by the volley from the cliff, but the bodies had been 
carried oft'. As to Guert and Jaap, no traces of them remained, 
dead or alive. 



SATANSTOE. 407 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

" She looked on many a face with vacant eyp, 
On many a token without knowing what ; 
She saw them watch her without asking why, 
And reck'd not who around her pillow sat ; 
Not speechless, though she spoke not ; not a sigh 

Relieved her thoughts: dull silence and quick chat 
"Were tried in vain by those who served ; she gave 
No sign, save breath, of having left the grave." 

Btuon. 

It was a most painful moment to mc, wlien Ilcrman Mor- 
daunt, an hour after all these facts were established, came to 
summon me to the presence of Anneke and Mary Wallace. One 
gleam of joy, one ray of the sunshine of the heart, shone on 
Anneke's sweet countenance as she saw me unharmed enter the 
room, but it quickly disappeared in the strong sympathy she 
felt for the su^erings of her friend. As for Mary Wallace, 
death itself could hardly have left her more colorless, or with 
features more firmly impressed with the expression of mental 
suffering. Anneke was the first to speak. 

" God be praised that this dreadful night is passed and you 
and my dearest father are spared !" the precious girl said, with 
fervor pressing the hand that had taken one of hers, in both 
her own. " For this much, at least, we can be grateful ; would 
I could add for the safety of us all !" 

"Tell me the worst at once, Mr. Littlepage," added Mary 
Wallace ; " I can bear any thing better than uncertainty. Mr. 
Jklordaunt says that you know the facts better than any one 
else, and that you must relate them. Speak, then, though it 
break my heart to hear it ! — is he killed ?" 

"I hope, through Heaven's mercy, not. Indeed I think 
uot; though I fear he must be a prisoner." 



d08 SATANSTOE. 

" Thank yon for that, clear, dear Mr. Littlepagc ! Oh ! 
thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart. But may 
they not torture him ? Do not these Hurons torture their 
prisoners ? Conceal nothing from me. Corny ; you cannot 
imagine how much self-command I have, and how well I can 
behave. Oh ! conceal nothing." 

Poor girl ! At the very moment she was boasting of her 
fortitude and ability to endure, her Avhole frame was trembling 
from head to foot, her face was of the hue of death, and the 
smile with which she spoke was fi-ightfully haggard. That 
pent-up passion, which had so long struggled with her prudence, 
could no longer be suppressed. That she really loved Guert, 
and that her love would prove stronger than her discretion, I 
had not doubted, now, for some months ; but never having 
before witnessed the strength of any feeling that had been so 
long and so painfully suppressed, I confess that this exhibition of 
a suffering so intense, in a being so delicate, so excellent, and 
so lovely, almost unmanned me. I took Mary Wallace's hand 
and led her to a chair, scarce knowing what to say to relieve 
her mind. All this time, her eye never turned from mine, as 
if she hoped to learn the truth by the aid of tljp sense of sight 
alone. How anxious, jealous, distrustful, and yet beseeching 
was that gaze ! 

"Will he be tortured?" She rather whispered huskily, than 
asked aloud. 

" I trust, by God's mercy, not. They have taken my slave, 
Jaap, also ; and it is far more probable that he would bo the 
victim in such a case, than Mr. Ten Eyck " 

" Why do you call him Mr. Ten Eyck? You have always 
called him Guert, of late — you are his friend — you think well 
of him — you cannot be less his friend, now that he is miserable, 
than when he was happy, and the pride of all human eyes, in 
his strength and manly beauty !" 

" Dear Miss Wallace, compose yourself, I do entreat of you 
■ — no one will cling to Guert longer than I." 

*' Yes ; I have always thought this — always fell this. Guert 



SATANSTOE. 469 

cannot be low, or mean in Lis sentiments, while an educated 
gentleman like Corny Littlepage is his friend. I have written 
to my aunt, and we must not be too hasty in our judgments. 
The spirit and follies of youth will soon be over, and then we 
shall see a shining character in Guert Ten Eyck. Is not this 
true, Anneke ?" 

Anneke knelt at the side of her friend, folded her in her 
arms, drew the quivering head down upon her own sympa- 
thizing bosom, and held it there a moment, in the very attitude 
of protecting, solacing love. After a brief pause, Mary "Wallace 
burst into tears, and I have ever thought that relief, under God's 
mercy, saved her reason. In a few minutes, the sufferer became 
more calm, when she retired into herself, as was her wont, 
leaving Anneke and me to discuss the subject. 

After turning all the chances and probabilities in our minds, 
I promised my companions not to lose a moment, but to use 
immediate means of ascertaining all that could be ascertained, 
in Guert's behalf, and of doing every thing that could be done 
to save him. 

"You will not deceive me. Corny," whispered Mary Wal- 
lace, pressing my hand at leave-taking, in both her own. " I 
know I can depend on you, for he boasts of being your friend." 

Anneke' s painful smile added force to this request, and I 
tore myself away, unwilling to quit such a sufferer, yet unable 
to remain. Herman Mordauut was seen conversing with Sus- 
quesus in the court, and I joined him at once, determined to 
lose no time. 

" I was speaking to the Trackless on this very subject," an- 
swered Herman Mordaunt, as soon as I had explained my pur- 
pose, " and am now waiting for his answer. Do you think it, 
then, safe to send a messenger out to the Ilurons, in order to 
inquire after our friends, and to treat with them?" 

" No send ? — Why not ?" returned the Indian. " Red man 
glad to see messenger. Go when he want ; come back when 
he want. How can make bargain, if scalp messenger?" 

I had heard that the most savage tribes respected a mcsscn- 



4*70 SATANSTOE. 

ger ; and, indeed, the necessity of so doing was, of itself, a sort 
of security tbat such must be the case. It was true, that the 
bearer of a flag might be in more danger, on such an errand, 
than would be the case in a camp of civilized men ; but these 
Canada Indians had been long serving with the French, and 
their chiefs, beyond a question, had obtained some of the notions 
of pale-face warfare. Without much reflection, therefore, and 
under an impulse in behalf of my friend, and my slave — ^for 
Jaap's fate was of lively interest with me — I volunteered to 
bear a flag myself. Herman Mordaunt shook his head, and 
seemed reluctant to comply. 

*' Ann eke would hardly pardon mc for consenting to that," 
he answered. " You must remember now, Corny, that a very 
tender and sensitive heart is bound up in you, and you must no 
longer act like a thoughtless single man. It would be far 
better to send this Onondago, if he will agree to go. He under- 
stands the red men, and will be able to interpret the omens 
with more certainty than any of us. Wliat say you, Susquesus ; 
will you be a messenger to the Hurons ?" 

"Sartain; — why no go, if he want? Good to be messen- 
ger, sometime. Where wampum — Avliat tell him ?" 

Thus encouraged, we deliberated together, and soon had 
Susquesus in readiness to depart. As for the Indian, he laid 
aside all his arms, washed the war-paint from his face, put a 
calico shirt over his shoulders, and assumed the guise of peace. 
We gave him a small white flag to carry, feeling certain that 
the Huron chiefs must understand its meaning ; and thinking it 
might be better, in bearing a message from pale-faces, that he 
who carried it should have a pale-face symbol of his errand. 
Susquesus found some wampum, too ; having as much faith in 
that, probably, as in any thing else. He then set forth, being 
charged to offer liberal ransom to the Hurons, for the living, 
uninjured bodies of Guert Ten Eyck and Jaap Satanstoe. 

We entertained no doubt that the enemy would be found in 
the ravine, for that was the point in every respect most favor- 
able to the operations of the siege ; being near the house, 



SATANSTOE. 



471 



having perfect cover, possessing water, wood, and other couvc- 
niences. From that point the Nest could be watched, and any 
favorable chance improved. Thither, then, Susquesus was told 
to proceed ; though it was not thought advisable to fetter one so 
shrewd with too many instructions. Several of us accompanied 
the Onondago to the gate, and saw him moving across the 
fields toward the wood, in his usual loping trot. A bird could 
scarcely have flown more directly to its object. 

The half-hour that succeeded the disappearance of Susquesus 
in the mouth of the ravine, was one of intensely painful sus- 
pense. We all remained without the gate waiting the result, 
including Dirck, Mr. Worden, Jason, and half-a-dozen of the 
settlers. At length the Onondago reappeared ; and to our 
great joy, a group followed him, in which were both the pris- 
oners. The last were bound, but able to walk. This party 
might have contained a dozen of the enemy, all of whom were 
armed. It moved slowly out of the ravine, and ascended to 
the fields that were on a level with the house, halting when 
about four hundred yards from us. Seeing this movement, we 
counted out exactly the same number of men, and went for- 
ward, halting at a distance of two hundred yards from the In- 
dians. Here we waited for our messenger, who continued on, 
after the Ilurons had come to a stand. Thus far every thing 
looked propitious. 

" Do you bring us good news ?" Herman Mordaunt eagerly 
asked. "Are our friends unhurt ?" 

•' Got scalp — no hurt— take prisoner— jump on 'em, ten, two, 
six— cotch 'em then. Open eyes; you see." 

" And the Hurons — do they seem inclined to accept the ran- 
som ? Rum, rifle, blanket and powder ; you oflcred all, I hope, 
Susquesus ?" 

"Sartain. No forget; that bad. Say take all that; some 
more, too." 

"And have they come to treat with us? What arc we to do 
now, Susquesus?" 

" Put down rifle— go near and talk. You go — priest go — 



472 SATANSTOE. 

young chief go^that free. Then t'ree warrior lay down rifle, 
come talk too. Prisoner wait. All good." 

This was suflBciently intelligible, and believing that any thing 
like hesitation might make the condition of Guert desperate, 
we prepared to comply. I could see that the Rev. Mr. Wor- 
den had no great relish for the business, but was ashamed to 
hang back when he saw Herman Mordaunt cheerfully advancing 
to the interview. We three were met by as many Hurons, 
among whom was Jaap's friend "Muss," who was evidently the 
leading person of the party. Guert and Jaap were held bound, 
about a hundred yards in the rear, but near enough to be spoken 
to, by raising the voice. Guert was in his shirt and breeches, 
with his head uncovered, his fine curly hair blowing about in 
the wind, and I thought I saw some signs of blood on his Uncn. 
This might be his own, or it might have come from an enemy. 
I called to him therefore, inquiring how he did, and whether ho 
Avas hurt. 

"Nothing to speak of. Corny, I thank you," was the cheer- 
ful answer ; these red gentlemen have had me tied to a tree, 
and have been seeing how near they could hurl their tomahawks 
without hitting. This is one of their customary amusements, 
and I have got a scratch or two in the sport. I hope the ladies 
are in good spirits, and do not let the business of last night dis- 
tress them." 

" There is blessed news for you, Guert — Susqucsus, ask these 
chiefs if I may go near my friend to give him one word of con- 
solation — on my honor no attempt to release him will be made 
by me, until I return here." 

I spoke earnestly, and the Onondago interpreted what I had 
said into the language of the Hurons. I had made this some- 
what hardy request, under an impulse that I found ungovern- 
able, and was surprised as well as pleased to find it granted. 
These savages confided in my word, and trusted to my honor 
with a stately delicacy that might have done credit to the man- 
ners of civilized kings, giving themselves no apparent concern 
about my movements, although they occurred in their own 



SATANSTOE. 473 

rear. It was too late to retract, and leaving Herman Mordaunt 
endeavoring to drive a bargain with Muss and his two compan- 
ions, I proceeded unconcerned myself, boldly toward the armed 
men who held Guert and Jaap prisoners. I thought my ap- 
proach did cause a slight movement among these savages, and 
there was a question and answer passed between them and their 
leaders. The latter said but a word or two, but these were 
uttered authoritatively, and with a commanding toss of a hand. 
Brief as they were, they answered the purpose, and I was nei- 
ther molested or spoken to during the short interview I had with 
my friend. 

"God bless you. Corny, for this !" Guert cried with feeling, 
as I warmly shook his hand. " It requires a warm heart, and 
a bold one too, to lead a man into this 'lion's den.' Stay but 
a moment, lest some evil come of it, I beg of you. This 
squeeze of the hand is worth an estate to a man in my situa- 
tion ; but remember Anneke. Ah ! Corny, my dear friend, I 
could be happy even here, did I know that !Mary Wallace 
grieved for me." 

"Then be happy, Guert. My sole object in venturing here 
was to tell you to hope every thing in that quarter. There will 
be no longer any coyness, any hesitation, any misgivings, wlien 
you shall be once restored to us." 

" Mr. Littlepage, you would not trifle with the feelings of a 
miserable captive, hanging between torture and death, as is my 
present case ! I can hardly credit my senses ; yet you would not 
mock me !" 

"Believe all I say — nay, all you ivish, Guert. It is seldom 
that woman loves as she loves, and this I swear to you. I go 
now only to aid Ilerman Mordaunt in bringing you where your 
own ears shall hear such proofs of what I say, as have been 
uttered in mine." 

Guert made no answer, but I could see lie was profoundly 
aflfected. I squeezed his hand, and we parted in the full hope, 
on my side at least, that the separation would be short. I have 
reason to think Guert shed tears ; for on looking back, I per 



474 SATAXSTOE. 

ceived Lis face turned away from tliose who were nearest to him, 
I had but a single glance at Jaap. My fellow stood a little in 
the rear, as became his color ; but he watched my countenance 
with the vigilance of a cat. I thought it best not to speak to 
him, though I gave him a secret sign of encouragement. 

*' These chiefs are not very amicably disposed, Corny," said 
Ilerman Mordaunt, the instant I rejoined him. "They have 
given me to understand that Jaap will be liberated on no terms 
whatever. They must have his scalp, as Susquesus tells me, on 
account of some severity he himself has shown to one of these 
chiefs. To use their own language, they want it for a plaster 
to this warrior's back. His fate it would seem, is sealed, and 
he has only been brought out yonder to raise hopes in him that 
are to be disappointed. The wretches do not scruple to avow 
this in their own sententious manner. As for Guert, they say 
he slew two of their warriors, and that their wives will miss 
their husbands, and will not easily be quieted unless they see 
his scalp, too. They offer to release him, however, on either 
of two sets of terms. They will give up Guert for two of what 
they call chiefs, or for four common men. If we do not like 
those conditions, they will exchange him, on condition we give 
two common men for him, and abandon the Nest to them, by 
marching out with all my people, before the sun is up above 
our heads." 

" Conditions that you cannot accept under any circumstances, 
I fear, sir?" 

"Certainly not. The delivery of any two is out of the ques- 
tion — would be so, even to save my own life. As for the Nest 
and all its contents, I would very willingly abandon all, a few 
papers excepted had I the smallest faith in the chiefs' being able 
to restrain their followers; but the dreadful massacre of William 
Henry is still too recent to confide in any thing of the sort. My 
answer is given already and we are about to part. Possibly, 
when they see us determined, they may lower their demands a 
little." 

A grave parting wave of the hand was given by Muss, who 



SATANSTOE, 4/5 

had conducted liimsclf with great dignity in the interview, and 
the three Hurons walked away in a body. 

"Best go," said Susquesus, significantly. "Maybe want 
rifle. Ilurons in 'arnest." 

On this hint, we returned to our friends, and resumed onr 
arms. What succeeded, I learned in part by the relations of 
others, while a part was witnessed by my own eyes. It seems 
that Jaap, from the first, understood the desperate nature of his 
own position. The remembrance of his misdeed in relation to 
Muss, whose prisoner lie had more especially become, most 
probably increased his apprehensions, and his thoughts were 
constantly bent on obtaining his liberty, by means entirely 
independent of negotiation. From the instant he was brought 
out of the ravine, he kept all his eyes about him, watching for 
the smallest chance of eft'ecting his purpose. It happened that 
one of the savages so placed himself before the negro, who was 
kept behind all near him, as to enable Jaap to draw the Huron's 
knife from its sheath without being detected. He did this 
while I was actually with the party, and all eyes were on me. 
Guert and himself were bound, by having their arms fastened 
above the elbows, behind the back; and when Guert turned 
aside to shed tears, as mentioned, Jaap succeeded in cutting his 
fastenings. This could be done, only while the savages were 
following my retreating form with their eyes. At the same 
time Jaap gave the knife to Guert, who did him a similar ser- 
vice. As the Indians did not take the alarm, the prisoners 
paused a moment, holding their arms as if still bound, to look 
around them. The Indian nearest Guert had two rifles, his 
own and that of Muss, both leaning negligently against his 
shoulder, with their breeches on the ground. To these weapons 
Guert pointed ; and when the three chiefs were on the point of 
rejoining their friends, who were attentive to their movements 
in order to ascertain the result, Guert seized this savage by his 
arm, which he twisted until the Indian yelled with pain, then 
caught one rifle, while Jaap laid hold of the other. Each fired 
and brought down his man ; then they made an onset with the 



476 SATANSTOE. 

butts of their pieces on the rest of the party. This bold assault, 
though so desperate in appearance, was the wisest thing they 
could do ; as immediate flight would have left their enemies an 
opportunity of sending the swift runners of their pieces in 
pursuit. 

The first intimation we had of any movement of this sort was 
in the reports of the rifles. Then, I not only saw, but I heard 
the tremendous blow Jaap gave to the head of Muss ; a blow 
that demolished both the victim and the instrument of his de- 
struction. Though the breech of the rifle was broken, the 
heavy barrel still remained, and the negro flourished it with a 
force that swept all before him. It is scarcely necessary to say 
Guert was not idle in such a fray. He fought for Mary Wal- 
lace, as well as for himself, and he overturned two more of the 
Indians, as it might be in the twinkling of an eye. Here 
Dirck did good service to our friends. His rifle was in his 
hands, and levelling it with coolness, he shot down a powerful 
savage who was on the point of seizing Guert from behind. 
This was the commencement of a general war, volleys now 
coming from both parties ; from ourselves, and from the enemy, 
who were in the cover of the woods. Intimidated by the fury 
of the personal assault under which they were sufi"ering, the 
remaining Indians near Guert and the negro leaped away to- 
ward their friends, yelling ; leaving their late prisoners free, 
but more exposed to fire than they could have been when encir- 
cled, even by enemies. 

Every thing passed with fearful rapidity. Guert seized the 
rifle of a fallen Indian, and Jaap obtained another, when they 
fell back toward us, like two lions at bay, with rifle-bullets 
whizzing around them at every step. Of course we fired, and 
we also advanced to meet them ; an imprudent step, since the 
main body of the Hurons were covered, rendering the contest 
unequal. But there was no resisting the sympathetic impulses 
of such a moment, or the exultation we all felt at the exploits 
of Guert and Jaap, enacted, as they were, before our eyes. As 
we drew together, the former shouted and cried — 



SATANSTOK. 477 

" Hurrah ! Corny, my noble fellow — let us charge the woot 
— there '11 not be a reat-skin left in it, in five minutes. Forwart, 
my friends — forwart, all !" 

It certainly was an exciting moment, "We all shouted in 
our turns, and all cried " forward," in common. Even Mr. 
Worden joined in the shout, and pressed forward. Jason, too, 
fought bravely ; and we went at the wood like so many bull- 
dogs. I fancy the pedagogue thought the fee-simple of his 
mills depended on the result. On we went, in open order, 
reserving our fire for the last moment, but receiving dropping 
shots, that did us no harm, until we dashed into the thicket. 

The Hurons were discomfited and they fled. Though a 
panic is not usual among these wild warriors, they seldom rally 
on the field. If once driven against their will a close pursuit 
will usually disperse them for a time ; and such was the case 
now. By the time I got fairly into the ravine I could see or 
hear of no enemy. My friends were on my right and left, 
shouting and pressing on, but there was no foe visible. Guert 
and Jaap were in advance, for we could not overtake them ; and 
they had fired, for they had got the last glimpses of the enemy. 
But one more shot did come from the Hurons in that inroad. 
It was fired from some one of the retreating party who must 
have been lingering in its rear. The report sounded far up the 
ravine, and it came like a farewell and final gun. Distant as it 
was, however, it proved the most fatal shot to us that was fired 
in all that affair. I caught a glimpse of Guert through the 
trees, and saw him fall. In an instant I was at his side. 

What a change is that from the triumph of victory to the 
sudden approach of death ! I saw by the expression of Guert's 
countenance, as I raised him in my arms, that the blow was 
fatal. The ball, indeed, had passed directly through his body, 
missing the bones, but injuring the vitals. There is no mistak- 
ing the expression of a death-wound on the human countenance 
when the effect is direct and not remote. Nature appears to 
admonish the victim of his fate ; so it was with Guert. 

"This shot has done forme. Corny," he said, " and it seems 



478 SATAN STOE. 

to be the very last they intended to fire, I almost hope there 
can be no truth in what you told me of Mary Wallace !" 

That was neither the time nor the place to speak on such a 
subject, and I made no answer. From the instant the fall of 
G uert became knoA\Ti, the pursuit ceased, and our whole paiiy 
collected around the wounded man. The Indian alone seemed 
to retain any consciousness of the importance of knowing what 
the enemy was doing, for his philosophy was not easily disturbed 
by the sudden appearance of death among us. Still he liked 
Guert, as did every one who could get beyond the weaknessea 
of his outer character, and fairly at the noble traits of his 
manly nature. Susquesus looked at the sufferer a moment, 
gravely and not without concern ; then he turned to Herman 
Mordaunt and said : 

" This bad — save scalp, that good, though. Carry him in 
house. Susquesus follow trail and see what Injin mean." 

As this was well, he was told to watch the enemy, while we 
bore our friend toward the Nest. Dirck consented to precede 
us and let the melancholy truth be known, while I continued 
with Guert, who held my hand the whole distance. We were 
a most melancholy procession for victors. Not a serious hurt 
had any of our party received in this last affair, the wound of 
Guert Ten Eyck excepted ; yet I question if more real sorrow 
would have been felt over two or three other deaths. We had 
become accustomed to our situation ; it is wonderful how soon 
the soldier does ; rendering death familiar and disarming him 
of half his terrors ; but calamities can and do occur, to bring 
back an army to a sense of its true nature and its dependence 
on Providence. Such had been the effect of the loss of Lord 
Howe, on the troops before Ticonderoga, and such was the 
effect of the fall of Guert Ten Eyck, on the small band that 
was collected to defend the possessions and firesides of Eavens- 
nest. 

We entered the gate of the house and found most of its 
tenants already in the court, collected like a congregation in a 
church that await the entrance of the dead. Herman Mordaunt 



SATANSTOE. 479 

had sent an order to have his own room prepared for the suf- 
ferer, and thither we carried Guert. He was placed on tlie 
bed, then the crowd silently withdrew. I observed that Guert' s 
eyes turned anxiously and inquiringly around, and I told him in 
a low voice, I would go for the ladies myself. A smile, and a 
pressure of the hand showed how well I had interpreted his 
thoughts. 

Somewhat to my surprise, I found Mary Wallace, pale it is 
true, but comparatively calm and mistress of herself. That 
instinct of propriety which seems to form a part of the nature 
of a well-educated woman, had taught her the necessity of self- 
command, that no outbreak of her feelings should aftect the 
sufferer. As for Anneke, she was like herself, gentle, mourn- 
ing, and full of sympathy for her friend. 

As soon as apprised of the object of my visit, the two girls 
expressed their readiness to go to Guert. As they knew the 
way, I did not attend them, purposely proceeding in another 
direction, in order not to be a witness of the interview. Anneke 
lias since told me, however, that Mary's self-command did not 
altogether desert her, while Guert' s cheerful gratitude probably 
so far deceived her as to create a short-lived hope that the 
wound was not mortal. For myself, I passed an hour in attend- 
ing to the state of things in and around the house, in order to 
make certain that no negligence occurred, still to endanger our 
security. At the end of that time I returned to Guert, meeting 
Herman Mordaunt near the door of his room. 

"Tlie little hope we had is vanished," said the last, in a 
sorrowful tone. "Poor Ten Eyck has, beyond a question, 
received his death-wound, and has but a few hours to live. 
Were my people safe, I would rather that every thing at Ra- 
vensnest, house and estate, were destroyed, than had this hap- 
pen !" 

Prepared by this announcement, I was not as much surprised 
as I might otherwise have been, at the great change that had 
occurred in my friend, since the time I quitted his room. It 
was evident he anticipated the result. Nevertheless, he was 



480 SATAN STOE. 

calm ; nay, apparently happy. Nor was lie so much enfeebled 
as to prevent his speaking quite distinctly, and with suflficient 
ease. When the machine of life is stopped by the sudden dis- 
ruption of a vital ligament, the approaches of death, though 
more rapid than with disease, are seldom so apparent. The first 
evidences of a fatal termination are discovered rather through 
the nature of the violence, than by means of its apparent ef- 
fects. 

I have said that Guert seemed even happy, though death was 
so near. Anneke told me subsequently, that Mary Wallace had 
owned her love, in answer to an earnest appeal on his part, and 
from that moment he had expressed himself as one who was 
about to die contented. Poor Guert ! It was little he thought 
of the dread future, or of the church on earth, except as the 
last was entitled to, and did receive on all occasions, his outward 
respect. It seemed that Mary Wallace, habitually so reserved 
and silent among her friends, had been accustomed to converse 
freely with Guert, and that she had made a serious effort, during 
her residence in Albany to enlighten his mind, or rather to 
arouse his feelings on this all-important subject, and that Guert, 
sensible of the pleasure of receiving instruction from such a 
source, always listened with attention. When I entered the 
room, some allusion had just been made to this theme. 

*' But for you, Mary, I should be little better than a heathen," 
said Guert, holding the hand of his beloved, and scarce averting 
his eyes from their idol a single instant. " If God has mercy 
on me, it will be on your account." 

"Oh! no — no — no — Guert, say not, think not thus !" ex- 
claimed Mary Wallace, shocke.d at the excess of his attachment 
even for herself at such a moment. "We all receive our par- 
dons through the death and mediation of his blessed Son. 
Nothing else can save you, or any of us, my dear, dear Guert ; 
and I implore you not to think otherwise." 

Guert looked a little bewildered ; still he looked pleased. 
'The first expression was probably produced by his not exactly 
comprehending the nature of that mysterious explanation which 



SATANSTOE. 481 

baffles tlie unaided powers of man, and which, indeed, is to be 
felt, rather than understood. The look of pleasure had its ori- 
gin in the " dear, dear Guert," and more than that, in the con- 
sciousness of possessing the affections of the woman he had so 
long loved, almost against hope. Guert Ten Eyck was a man 
of bold and recMess character in all that pertained to risks, 
frolic, and youthful adventure ; but the meekest Christian could 
scarcely possess a more lowly opinion of his own frailties and 
sins, than this dashing young fellow possessed of his own claims 
to be valued by such a being as Mary Wallace. I often won- 
dered how he ever presumed to love her, but suppose the 
apparent vanity must be ascribed to the resistless power of a 
passion that is known to be the strongest of our nature. It was 
also a sort of moral anomaly that two so opposed to each other 
in character — the one verging on extreme recklessness, the 
other pushing prudence almost to prudery ; the one so gay as 
to seem to live for frolic, the other quiet and reserved — should 
conceive this strong predilection for each other ; but so it was. 
I have heard persons say, however, that these varieties in tem- 
perament awaken interest, and that they who have commenced 
with such dissimilarities, but have assimilated by communion, 
attachment, and habits, after all make the happiest couples. 
. Mary Wallace lost all reserve, in the gush of tenderness and 
sympathy that now swept all before it. Throughout the whole 
of that morning she hung about Guert, as the mother watches 
the ailing infant. If his thirst was to be assuaged, her hand 
held the cup ; if his pillow was to be replaced, her eare sug- 
gested the alteration ; if his brow was to be wiped, she per- 
formed that office for him, suffering no other to come between 
her and the object of her solicitude. 

There were moments when the manner in which Mary Wal- 
lace hung over Guert, was infinitely touching. Anneke and I 
knew that her very soul yearned to lead his thoughts to dwell 
on the subject of the great change that was so near. Neverthe- 
less, the tenderness of the woman was so much stronger than 
even the anxiety of the Christian, that we perceived she feared 
21 



482 SATAN STOE. 

the influence on liis wound. At length, liappily for an anxiety 
tlaat was beginning to be too painful for endurance, Guert spoke 
on the subject himself. "Whether his mind naturally adverted 
to such a topic, or he perceived the solicitude of his gentle nurse, 
I conld not say. 

*' I cannot stay with you long, Mary," he said, "and I should 
like to have Mr. Worden's prayers, united to yours, offered 
up in my behalf. Corny will seek the Dominie for an old 
friend?" 

I vanished from the room, and was absent ten minutes. At 
the end of that time, Mr. Wordcn was ready in his surplice, 
and we went to the sick-room. Certainly our old pastor had 
not the way of manifesting the influence of religion, that is 
usual to the colonies, especially to those of the more northern 
and eastern portions of the country ; yet there was a heartiness 
in his manner of praying, at times, that almost persuaded me 
he was a good man. I will own, however, that Mr. Worden 
Avas one of those clergymen who could pray much more sin- 
cerely for certain persons than for others. lie was partial to 
poor Guert; and I really thought this was manifest in his accents 
on this melancholy occasion. 

The dying man was relieved by this attention to the rites of 
the church. Guert was not a metaphysician ; and at no period 
of his life, I believe, did he enter very closely into the consider- 
ation of those fearful questions which were connected with his 
existence, origin, destination, and position, in the long scale of 
animated beings. He had those general notions on these sub- 
jects that all civilized men imbibe by education and communion 
with their fellows, but nothing more. He understood it was a 
duty to pray ; and I make no doubt he fancied there were times 
and seasons in which this duty was more imperative than at 
others ; and times and seasons when it might be dispensed 
with. 

How tenderly and hoAV anxiously did Mary Wallace watch 
over her patient, during the whole of that sad day ! She seemed 
to know neither weariness nor fatig-ue. Toward evening — it 



SATANSTOE. 483 

was just as the suu was tinging tlie summits of tlie trees with 
its parting light — she came toward Anneke and myself with a 
face that was slightly illuminated with something like a glow of 
pleasure, and whispered to us that Guert was better. Within 
ten minutes of that moment I approached the bed, and saw a 
slight movement of the patient's hand, as if he desired me to 
come nearer. 

" Corny," said Guert, in a low, languid voice — " it is nearly 
all over. I wish I could see Mary "Wallace once more, before 1 
die." 

Mary was not, could not be distant. She fell upon her 
knees, and clasped the yielding form of her lover to her heart. 
Nothing was said on either side ; or if aught were said, it was 
whispered, and was of a nature too sacred to be communicated 
to others. In that attitude did this young woman, long so coy 
and difficult to decide, remain for near an hour, and in that 
quiet, cherishing, womanly embrace, did Guert Ten Eyck breathe 
his last. 

I left the sufferer as much alone with the woman of his 
heart, as comported with pnidence and a proper attention on 
my part ; but it was my melancholy duty to close his eyes. 
Thus prematurely terminated the earthly career of as manly a 
spirit as ever dwelt in human form. That it had imperfections, 
my pen has not concealed ; but the long years that have since 
passed away, have not served to obliterate the regard so noble 
a temperament could not fail to awaken. 



484 SATANSTOE. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

" How slow the (lay slides on I When wc desire 
Time's haste, he seems to lose a match with lobsters: 
And when we wish him staj% he imps his wings 
"With feathers plumed with thought." 

Albamazar. 

It is unnecessary to dwell on the grief that we all felt for our 
loss. That night was necessarily one of watchfulness, but few 
were inclined to sleep. The return of light found us unmolested, 
however ; and an hour or two later, Susquesus came in, and 
reported that the enemy had retreated toward Ticonderoga. 
There was nothing more to fear from that quarter, and the 
settlers soon began to return to their dwellings, or to such as 
remained. In the course of a week the axe again rang in the 
forest, and rude habitations began to reappear, in the places of 
those that had been destroyed. As Bulstrode could not well 
be removed, Herman Mordaunt determined to pass the re- 
mainder of the season at Ravensnest, with the double view of 
accommodating his guest, and of encouraging his settlers. The 
danger was known to be over for that summer at least, and, 
ere the approach of another, it was hoped that the humiliated 
feelings of Great Britain would so far be aroused, as to drive 
the enemy from the province ; as indeed was effectually done. 

On consultation, it was decided that the body of Guert ought 
to be sent for interment among his friends, to Albany. Dirck 
and myself accompanied it, as the principal attendants, all that 
remained of our party going with us. Herman Mordaunt 
thought it necessary to remain at Ravensnest, and Anneke 
would not quit her father. The Rev. Mr. Worden's missionary 
zeal had, by this trial, effectually evaporated, and he profited 
by so favorable au occasion to withdraw into the safer and more 



SATAN STOE. 485 

peopled districts. I well remember as wc marclicd after tLc 
horse-litter that carried the remains of poor Guert, the divine's 
making the follo\Ying sensible remarks : — 

" You see how it is, on this frontier, Corny," he said ; " it is 
premature to think of introducing Christianity. Christianity is 
essentially a civilized religion, and can only be of use among 
civilized beings. It is true, my young friend, that many of the 
early apostles were not learned, after the fashion of this world, 
but they were all thoroughly civilized. Palestine was a civilized 
country, and the Hebrews were a great people ; and I consider 
the precedent set by our blessed Lord is a command to be fol- 
lowed in all time, and that his appearance in Judea is tanta- 
mount to his saying to his apostles, 'go and preach me and 
my gospel to all civilized j^eople.' " 

I ventured to remark that there was something like a direct 
command to preach it to all nations, to be found in the Bible. 

" Ay, that is true enough," answered Mr. Worden, " but it 
clearly means all civilized nations. Then, this was before the 
discovery of America, and it is fair enough to presume that the 
command referred solely to knoion nations. The texts of scrip- 
ture are not to be strained, but are to be construed naturally, 
Corny, and this seems to me to be the natural reading of that 
passage. No, I have been rash and imprudent in pushing 
duty to exaggeration, and shall confine my labors to their proper 
.sphere, during the remainder of my days. Civilization is just 
as much a means of Providence as religion itself; and it is 
clearly intended that one should be built on the other. A 
clergyman goes quite far enough from the centre of refinement, 
when he quits home to come into these colonies to preach the 
gospel ; letting alone these scalping devils the Indians, who, I 
greatly fear, were never born to be saved. It may do well 
enough to have societies to keep them in view, but a meeting 
in London is quite near enough ever to approach them." 

Such, ever after, appeared to be the sentiments of the Rev. 
Mr. Worden, and I took no pains to change them. I-ought, 
however, to have alluded to the parting with Anncke, before 



48G SATANSTOE. 

I gave the forcgomg extract from tlie parson's liomily. Circum- 
stances prevented my having much private communication with 
my betrothed before quitting the Nest ; for Anneke's sympathy 
with Mary Wallace was too profound to permit her to think 
much, just then, of aught but the latter's sorrows. As for 
Mary herself, the strength and depth of her attachment and 
grief were never fully appreciated, until time came to vindicate 
them. Her seeming calm was soon ' restored, for it was only 
under a tempest of feeling that Mary Wallace lost her self- 
command ; and the affliction that was inevitable and iiTcmedi- 
able, one of her regulated temperament and high principles, 
struggled to endure with Christian submission. It was only iu 
after-life that I came to know how intense and absorbing had, 
in truth, been her passion for the gay, high-spirited, ill-edu- 
cated, and impulsive young Albanian. 

Anncke wept for a few minutes in my arms, a quarter of an 
hour before our melancholy procession quitted the Nest. The 
dear girl had no undue reserve wath me ; though I found her 
a little reluctant to converse on the subject of our own loves so 
soon after the fearful scenes we had just gone through. Still 
she left me in no doubt on the all-important point of my carry- 
ing away with me her whole and entirely undivided heart. 
Bulstrode she never had, never could love. This she assured 
me over and over again. He amused her, and she felt for him 
some of the affection and interest of kindred, but not the least 
of any other interest. Poor Bulstrode I now I was certain of 
success I had very magnanimous sentiments in his behalf, and 
could give him credit for various good qualities that had been 
previously obscured in my eyes. Herman Mordaunt had re- 
quested nothing might be said to the major of my engagement; 
though an early opportunity was to be taken by himself to let 
the suitor understand that Anneke declined the honor of his 
hand. It was thought the information would come best from 
him. 

" I shall be frank with you, Littlcpage, and confess I have 
been very anxious for the union of my daughter and Mr. Bui- 



SATANSTOE. 4S7 

strode," in the interview we liad before I left tlie Nest; "and I 
trust to your own good sense to account for it. I knew Bul- 
strode before I had any knowledge of yourself ; and there was 
already a connection between us, that was just of a nature to 
render one that was closer desirable. I shall not deny that I 
fancied Anneke fitted to adorn the station and circles to which 
Bulstrode could have carried her ; and perhaps it is a natural 
parental weakness to wish to sec one's child promoted. Wo 
talk of humility and contentment. Corny, though there is much 
of the nolo episcopari about it, after all. But you see that the 
preference of the child is so much stronger than that of the 
parent that it must prevail. I dare say, after all, yon would 
much rather be Anneke's choice than be mine ?" 

" I can have no difficulty in admitting that, sir," I answered ; 
"and I feel very sensible of the liberal manner in which you 
yield your own preferences to our wishes. Certainly, in the 
way of rank and fortune, I have little to ofier, Mr. Mordaunt, as 
an offset to Mr. Bulstrode' s claims; but, in love for your 
daughter, and in an ardent desire to make her happy, I shall 
not yield to him, or any other man, though he were a king." 

"In the way of fortune, Littlepage, I have very few regrets. 
As you are to live in this country, the joint means of the two 
famihes, which some day must centre in you and Anneke, will 
prove all-sufficient ; and as for posterity, Ravensnest and Moose- 
ridge will supply ample provisions. As the colony grows, 
your descendants will increase, and your means will increase 
with both. No, no ; I may have been a little disappointed, 
that much I will own ; but I have not been at any time dis- 
pleased. God bless you, then, my dear boy ; write us from 
Albany, and come to us at Lilacsbush in September. Your re- 
ception Avill be that of a son." 

It is needless to dwell on the melancholy procession we formed 
through the woods. - Dirck and myself kept near the body, on 
foot, until we reached the highway, when vehicles were pro- 
vided for the common transportation. On reaching Albany we 
delivered the remains of Gucit to his relatives, and there was a 



488 SATANSTOE. 

suitable funeral given. The bricked closet bebind the cbiinncy 
was opened as usual, and the six dozen of Madeira that bad 
been placed in it twenty-four years before, or tlie day tbe poor 
fellow was christened, was found to be very excellent. I re- 
member it was said generally that better wine was drunk at the 
funeral of Guert Ten Eyck, than had been tasted at the obse- 
quies of any individual who was not a Van Rensselaer, a Schuy- 
ler, or a Ten Broeck, within the memory of man. I now speak 
of funerals in Albany, for I do suppose the remark would scarce- 
ly ."ipply to many other funerals lower down the river. As a 
rule, however, very good wine was given at all our funerals. 

The Rev. Mr. Worden officiated, and was universally re- 
garded with interest, as a pious minister of the gospel, who had 
barely escaped the fate of tlie person he was now committing 
" dust to dust," while devotedly and ardently employed in en- 
deavoring to rescue the souls of the very savages Avho sought 
his life, from the fate of the heathen. 

I remember there was a very Avell worded paragraph to this 
effect in the New York Gazette, and I had heard it said, but 
do not remember to have ever seen it myself, that in one of 
the reports of the Society for the Promulgation of the Gospel 
in Foreign Parts, the circumstances were alluded to in a ver\ 
touching and edifying manner. 

Poor Guert ! I passed a few minutes at his grave before we 
went south. It was all that was left of his fine person, his 
liigh spirit, his lion-hearted courage, his buoyant spirits, and 
his unextinguishable love of frolic. A finer physical man I 
never beheld, or one who better satisfied the eye, in all re- 
spects. That the noble tenement was not more intellectually 
occupied, was purely the consequence of a want of education. 
Notwithstanding, all the books in the world could not have 
converted Guert Ten Eyck into a Jason Newcome, or Jason 
Newcome into a Guert Ten Eyck. EacJi owed many of his 
peculiarities, doubtless, to the province in which he was bred 
and born, and to the training consequent on these accidents ; 
but nature had also drawn broad distinctions between them. 



SATANSTOE. 480 

All the wilducss of Gucrt's impulses could not altogether de- 
Btroy his feelings, tone, and tact as a gentleman ; while all the 
soaring, extravagant pretensions of Jason never could have ended 
in elevating him to that character. Alas ! Poor Guert ! I sin- 
cerely mourned his loss for years, nor has his memory yet 
ceased to have a deep interest with me. 

Dirck Follock and I would have been a good deal caressed 
at Albany, on our return, both on account of what had hap- 
pened, and on account of our Dutch connections, had we been 
in the mood to profit by the disposition of the people. But we 
were not. The sad events with which we had been connected 
were still too recent to indulge in gayeties or company ; and, 
as soon as possible after the funeral, we seized the opportunity 
of embarking on board a sloop bound to New York. Our 
voyage was generally considered a prosperous one, lasting, in 
deed, only six days. We took the ground three times, it is 
true ; but nothing was thought of that, such accidents being of 
frequent occurrence. Among the events of this sort, one occur- 
red in the Overslaugh, and I passed a few hours there very 
pleasantly, as it was so near the scene of our adventure on the 
river. Anneke always occupied much of my thoughts, but 
pleasing pictures of her gentle decision, her implicit reliance on 
myself, her resignation, her spirit, and her intelligence, were- 
now blended, without any alloy, in my recollections. The dear 
girl had confessed to me, that she loved me even on that fearful 
night, for her tenderness in my behalf dated much farther back. 
This was a great addition to the satisfiiction with which I went 
over every incident and speech, in recollection, endeavoring to 
recall the most minute tone or expression, to see if I could 7ww 
connect it with any sign of that passion, which I was authorized 
in believing did even then exist. Thus aided, equally by 
x\nneke's gentle, blushing admissions, and my own wishes, I 
had no difficulty in recalling pictures that were infinitely agree- 
able to myself, though possibly not minutely accurate. 

In thcTappaan Sea, Dirck left us; proceeding into Rockland, 
to join his family. T continued on in the sloop, reaching port 



490 SATANSTOE. 

next day. My uncle and aunt Legge were deligbted to see me, 
rind I soon found I should be a lion, had I leisure to remain in 
town, in order to enjoy the notoriety my connection with the 
northern expedition had created, I found a deep mortification 
pervading the capital, in consequence of our defeat, mingled 
with a high determination to redeem our tarnished honor. 

Satanstoe, with all its endearing ties, however, called me 
away; and I left town, on horseback, leaving my effects to 
follow by the first good opportunity, the morning of the day 
succeeding that on Avhich I had arrived. I shall not attempt 
to conceal one weakness. As usual, I stopped at Kingsbridgc 
to dine and bait ; and while the notable landlady was preparing 
my dinner, I ascended the heights to catch a distant view of 
Lilacsbush. There lay the pretty cottage-like dwelling, placed 
beneath its hill, amid a wilderness of shrubbery ; but its lovely 
young mistress was far away, and I found the pleasure with 
which I gazed at it blended with regrets. 

" You have been north, I hear, Mr. Littlepagc," my land- 
lady observed, while I was discussing her lamb, and peas and 
asparagus; "pray, sir, did you hear or see any thing of our 
honored neighbors, Herman Mordaunt and his charming 
daughter ?" 

"Much of both, Mrs. Light; and that imdcr trying circum- 
stances. Mooseridge, my father's property in that part of the 
province, is quite near to Ravensnest, Herman Mordaunt's 
estate, and I have passed some time at it. Have no tidings of 
the family reached you lately ?" 

"None, unless it be the report that Miss Anneke will never 
njturn to us." 

" Anneke not return ! In the name of wonder, how do you 
hear this ?" 

"Not as Mtss Anneke, but as Lady Anneke, or something of 
that sort. Isn't there a General Bulstrom, or some great officei 
or other, who seeks her hand, and on whom she smiles, sir?" 

" I presume I understand you, now. Well, what do you 
learn of him 2" 



SATANSTOE. 49j 

" Only that tliey are to Le married next month — some say 
they are married already, and that the old gentleman gives Li- 
lacsbush out and out, and four thousand pounds currency down, 
in order to purchase so high an honor for his child. I tell the 
iieighhors it is too much, Miss Annoke being worth any lord in 
England, on her own, sole account." 

This intelligence did not disturb me, of coui-sc, for it was 
tavern-tidings and neighbors' news. Neighbors ! IIow much 
is that sacred word prostituted ! You shall find people opening 
their ears with avidity to the gossip of a neighborhood, when 
nineteen times in twenty it is less entitled to credit than the 
intelligence which is obtained from a distance, provided the 
latter cpme from persons of the same class in life as the indi- 
viduals in question, and arc known to them. What means had 
this woman of knowing the secrets of Herman Mordaunt's fam- 
ily, that were one-half as good as those possessed by friends in 
Albany, for instance ? This neighborhood testimony, as it is 
called, does a vast deal of mischief in the province, and most 
especially in those parts of it where our own people are brought 
in contact with their fellow subjects from the more eastern 
colonies. In my eyes, Jason Ncwcome's opinions of Herman 
ISIordaunt and his acts would be nearly worthless, shrewd as I 
admit the man to be ; for the two liave not a distinctive opin- 
ion, custom, and I had almost said 2)rinciple, in common. Just 
appreciation of motives and acts can only proceed from those 
who feel and think alike ; and this is morally impossible where 
there exist broad distinctions in social classes. It is just for this 
reason that we attach so little importance to the ordinary re- 
ports, and even to the sworn evidence of servants. 

Our reception at Satanstoe was just what might have been 
expected. My dear mother hugged me to her heart again and 
ao-ain, and seemed never to be satisfied with feasting her eyes 
on me. My father was affected at seeing me, too; and I 
thought there was a very decided moisture in his eyes. As for 
old Captain Hugh Roger, threescore- an d-tcn had exhausted his 
fluids pretty much ; but he shook me licartily by the hand, and 



492 SATANSTOE. 

listened to my account of the movements before Ty -wltli all a 
soldier's interest, and witli somewhat of the fire of one who had 
served himself in more fortunate times. I had to fight my bat- 
tles o'er and o'er again, as a matter of course, and to recount 
the tale of Ravensnest in all its details. We were at supper 
when I concluded my most labored narrative, and Avhen I began 
to hope my duties in this respect were finally terminated. But 
my dear mother had heavier matters still on her mind ; and it 
was necessary that I should give her a private conference, in her 
own little room. 

"Corny, my beloved child," commenced this anxious and 
most tender parent, " you have said nothing particular to me 
of the Mordaunts. It is now time to speak of that family." 

"Have I not told you, mother, how we met at Albany, and 
of what occurred on the river?" I had not spoken of that ad- 
venture in my letters, because I was uncertain of the true state 
of Anneke's feelings, and did not wish to raise expectations 
that might never be realized. " And of our going to Eavens- 
nest in company, and of all that happened at Ravensncst after 
our return from Ty ?" 

"What is all this to me, child ! I wish to hear you speak of 
Anncke — is it true that she is going to be married ?" 

" It is true. I can affirm that much from her own mouth." 

My dear mother's countenance fell, and I could hardly pursue 
my wicked equivoque any further. 

"And she has even had the efiVontery to own this to 7/011, 
Corny." 

" She has indeed ; though truth compels me to add that she 
blushed a great deal while admitting it, and seemed only hall 
disposed to be so frank; that is, at first; for in the end, she' 
rather smiled than blushed." 

" Well, this amazes me ! It is only a proof that vanity, and 
worldly rank, and worldly riches stand higher in the estimation 
of Anneke Mordaunt, than excellence and modest merit." 

" What riches and worldly rank have I, mother, to tempt 
any woman to forget the qualities you have mentioned?" 



SATANSTOE. 493 

" I was not tLinking of you, my son, in tliat sense at all. 
Of course, I mean Mr. Bulstrode." 

" What has Mr. Bulstrode to do with my marriage with Anne 
Mordaunt ? or any one else but her own sweet self, who has 
consented to become my wife ; her father, who accepts mo for 
a son ; my fether, who is about to imitate his example by tak- 
ing Anneke to his heart as a daugliter, and you, my dearest, 
dearest mother, who are the only person likely to raise obstacles, 
as you are now doing ?" 

This was a boyish mode of producing a most delightful sur- 
prise, I am very ready to acknowledge ; and when I saw my 
mother burst into tears, I felt both regret and shame at having 
practised it. But youth is the season of folly, and happy is 
the man who can say he has never trifled more seriously with 
the feelings of a parent. I was soon pardoned — what offence 
w^ould not that devoted mother have pardoned her only child ! 
— when I was made to relate all that Avas proper to be told of 
what had passed between Anneke and myself. It is scarcely 
necessary to say I was assured of the cheerful acquiescence in 
my wishes, of all my own family, from Captain Hugh Roger 
down to the dear person who was speaking. They had set 
their minds on my becoming the husband of this very young 
lady; and I could not possibly have made any communication 
that would be more agreeable, as I was given to understand 
from each and all that very night, 

My return to Satanstoe occurred in the last half of the month 
of July. The Mordaunts were not to be at Lilacsbush until the 
middle of September, and I had near two months to wait for 
that happy moment. The time was passed as well as it could 
be. I endeavored to interest myself in the old Neck, and to 
plan schemes of future happiness there, that were to be realized 
ill Anneke's society. It was and is a noble farm ; rich, beauti- 
fully placed, having water on three of its sides, in capital order, 
and Avell stocked with such apples, peaches, apricots, plums, 
and other fruits, a^^ the world can scarcely equal. It is tine 
tliat the provinces a liltlc further south, such as New Jersey, 



494 SATAN S TOE. 

Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, lliiiik tliey can beat us 
in peaches ; but I have never tasted any fruit that I thought 
Avonld compare with that of Satanstoc. I love every tree, wall, 
knoll, swell, meadow and hummock about the old place. One 
thing distresses me. I love old names, such as my father knew 
the same places by ; and I like to mispronounce a word when 
custom and association render the practice familiar. I would 
not call my friend, Dirck Follock, any thing else but Follock, 
unless it might be in a formal Avay, or when asking him to drink 
a glass of wine with mc, for a great deal. So it is with Satans- 
toe ; the name is homely, I am willing to allow ; but it is strong 
and conveys an idea. It relates also to the usages and notions 
of the country ; and names ought always to be preserved, ex- 
cept in those few instances in which there arc good reasons for 
altering them. I regret to say, that ever since the appearance 
of Jason Newcome among us, there has been a disposition 
^mong the ignorant and vulgar to call the Neck, Dibbleton ; 
ander the pretence, I have already mentioned, that it once be- 
longed to the family of Dibbloes, or as some think, as a pious 
diminutive of Devii's-Town. I indignantly repel this supposi- 
tion ; though I do believe that Dibbleton is only a sneaking 
mode of pronouncing Devilton, as I admit, I have heard the old 
people laughingly term the Neck. This belongs to the "Gaul 
darn j'c" school, and it is not to my taste. 1 say the ignorant 
and vulgar, for this is just the class to be squeamish on such 
subjects. I have been told — though I cannot say that I have heard 
it myself — but I am told there have been people from the east- 
Avard among us of late years, who affect to call " Hell-gate," 
"Hurl-gate," or "Whirl-gate," or by some other such senti- 
mental, whirl-a-gig name ; and these are the gentry who would 
wish to alter " Satanstoe" into " Dibbleton !" Since the eastern 
troops have begun to come among us, indeed, they have com- 
menced a desperate inroad on many of our old venerated Dutch 
names ; names that the English, direct from home have gener- 
ally respected. Indeed, change — change in all things seems to 
be the besetting passion of these people. We of New York 



SATANSTOE. 495 

arc content to do as our ancestors have done before us ; and 
this they ridicule, making it matter of accusation against us 
that we follow the notions of our fiithers. I shall never com- 
I^Iain that they are deserting so many of their customs ; for I 
regard the changes as improvements, but I beg that they may 
leave us ours. 

That there is such a thing as improvement I am willing 
enough to admit, as well as that it not only compels, but excuses 
changes ; but I am yet to learn it is matter of just reproach 
that a man follows in the footsteps of those who have gone 
before him. The apothegms of David, and the wisdom of 
Solomon, are just as much apothegms and wisdom, in our own 
time, as they were the day they were WTitten, and for precisely 
the same reason — their truth. Where there is so much stability 
ill morals, there must be permanent principles, and something 
surely is worthy to be saved from the wreck of the past. I 
doubt if all this craving for change has not more of selfishness 
in it than either of expediency or of philosophy ; and I could 
wish, at least, that Satanstoe should never be frittered away 
into so sneaking a substitute as Dibbleton. 

That was a joyful day, when a servant in Herman Mordaunt's 
livery rode in upon our lawn, and handed me a letter from his 
master, informing me of the safe anival of the family, and 
inviting me to ride over next day in time to take a late break- 
fast at Lilacsbush. Anneke had written to me twice previously 
to this ; two beautifully expressed, feminine, yet spirited, affec- 
tionate letters, in which the tenderness and sensibility of her 
nature were barely restrained by the delicacy of her sex and 
situation. On the receipt of this welcome invitation, I was 
guilty of the only piece of romantic extravagance that I can 
remember having committed in the course of my life. Her- 
man Mordaunt's black was well treated, and dismissed with a 
letter of acceptance. One hour after he left Satanstoe — I do 
love that venerable name, and hope all the Yankees in Christen- 
dom Avill not be able to alter it to Dibbleton — but one hour 
after the negro was off, I followed him myself, intending to 



496 SATANSTOE. 

sleep at the well-known inn at Kingsbridge, and not present 
myself at the Bush, until the proper hour next morning. 

I had got to the house of the talkative landlady two liours 
before sunset, put up my horse, secured my lodgings, and was 
eating a bite myself, when the good housewife entered the 
room. 

'* Your servant, Mr. Littlepage," commenced this loquacious 
person ; " how are the venerable Captain Hugh Roger, and the 
major, your honored father ? Well, I see by your smile. Well, 
it is a comfortable thing to have our friends enjoy good health 
— my own poor man enjoyed most wretched health all last 
winter, and is likely to enjoy very much the same, that whigh 
is coming. I should think you had come to the wedding at 
Lilacsbush, Mr. Corny, had you not stopped at my door, instead 
of going on direct to that of Herman Mordaunt." 

I started,- but supposed that the news of what was to happen 
had leaked out, and that this good woman, whose cars were 
always open, had got hold of a ncighborhood-/r«(///, for once in 
her life. 

" I am on no such errand, Mrs. Light, but hope to be mar- 
ried, one of these days, to some one or other." 

" I was not thinking of your mamage, sir, but that of Miss 
Anneke, over at the Bush, to this Lord Bulstrom. It's a great 
connection for the Mordaunts, after all, though Herman Mor- 
daunt is of good blood himself, they tell me. The knight's 
man often comes here, to taste new cider, which he admits is 
as good as English cider, and I believe it is the only thing 
which he has found in the colonics that he thinks is one-half as 
good ; but Thomas tells nic all is settled, and that the wedding 
must take place right soon. It has only been put off on account 
of Miss Wallace, who is in deep mourning for her own husband, 
having lost him within the honey-moon, which is the reason 
she still bears her own name. They tell me a widow who 
loses her husband in the honey-moon is obliged to bear her 
maiden name ; otherwise Miss Mary would be Mrs. Van Goort, 
or somethintr like that." 



8ATANST0E, 407 

As it was very clear the neigliborliood knew but little about 
the true state of things in Herman Mordauut's family, I took 
my hat and proceeded to execute the intention with which I 
had left home. I was sorry to hear that Bulstrode was at 
Lilacsbush, but had no apprehensions of his ever marrying 
Anneke. I took my way to the heights, and soon reached the 
field where I had once met the ladies on horseback. There, 
seated under a tree, I saw Bulstrode, alone, and apparently in 
deep contemplation. It was no part of my plan to be seen, or 
to have my presence known, and I was retiring, when I heard 
my name, discovered that I was recognized, and joined him. 

The first glance at Bulstrode showed me that he knew the 
truth. He colored, bit his lips, forced a smile, and came for- 
ward to meet me, limping just enough to add interest to his 
gait, and offered his hand to me with a frank manliness that 
gave him great merit in my eyes. It was no trifle to lose Anne 
Mordaunt, and I am afraid I could not have manifested half so 
much magnanimity. But Bulstrode Avas a man of the world, 
and he knew how to command the exhibition of his feelings, if 
not to command the feelings themselves. 

" I told you once. Corny," he said, offering his hand, " that 
we must remain friends, coute qui coute — you have been success- 
ful, and I have failed. Herman Mordaunt told me the melan- 
choly fact before we left Albany ; and I can tell you, his regrets 
were not so very flattering to you. Nevertheless, he admits you 
arc a capital fellow, and that if it were not for Alexander, he 
could wish to be Diogenes. So you have only to provide your- 
self with a lantern and a tub, marry Anneke, and set up house- 
keeping. As for the honest man, I propose saving you some 
trouble, by offering myself in that character, even before you 
light your wick. Come, take a seat on this bench, and k't us 
ciiat." 

There was something a little forced in all this, it is true, but 
it was manly. I took the seat, and Bulstrode went on. 

"It was the river that made your fortune, Corny, and undid 
mc." 



193 SATANSTOE. 

I smiled, but said nothing ; though I knew better. 

"There is fate in love, as in war. Well, I am as well off as 
Abercrombie ; we both expected to be victorious, while each is 
conquered. I am more fortunate, indeed; for he can never 
expect to get another army, while I may get another wife. I 
wish you Avould. be frank with me, and confess to what you par- 
ticularly ascribe your own success." 

" It is natural, Mr. Bulstrodc, that a young woman should, 
prefer to live in her own country, to living in a strange land, and 
among strangers." 

" Ay, Corny, that is both patriotic and modest ; but it is not 
the real reason. No, sir ; it was Scrub and the theatricals, by 
which I have been undone. With most provincials, Mr. Little 
page, it is a sufficient apology for any thing, that the metropolis 
approves. So it is with you colonists in general ; let England 
say yes, and you dare not say no. There is one thing that per- 
sons who live so far from home seldom learn ; and it is this : 
there are two sorts of great worlds ; the great vulgar world, 
which includes all but the very best in taste, principles, and 
manners, whether it be in a capital or in a countiy ; and. the 
great respectable world, which, infinitely less numerous, contains 
the judicious, the instructed, the intelligent, and on some ques- 
tions, the good. Now the first form fashion ; whereas the last 
produce something far better and more enduring than fashion. 
Fashion often stands rebuked in the presence of the last class, 
r>:nall as it ever is, numerically. Very high rank, very finished 
tastes, very strong judgments, and very correct principles, all 
unite more or less, to make up this class. One or more of 
these qualities may be wanting, perhaps, but the union of the 
Avhole forms the perfection of the character. We have daily 
examples of this at home, as well as elsewhere ; though in our 
artificial state of society it requires more decided qualities to 
resist the influence of fashion, when there is not positive, social 
rank to sustain it, perhaps, than it would in one more natural. 
That which first struck me in Anneke, as is the case with most 
young men, was the delicacy of her appearance, and her beauty. 



SATAIiSTOE. 499 

This I will not deny. lu tliis respect, your American women 
have quite taken me by surprise. In England Ave are so accus- 
tomed to associate a certain delicacy of person and air, with 
high rank, that I will confess, I landed in New York with no 
expectation of meeting a single female in the whole country, 
that was not comparatively coarse, and what we are accustomed 
to consider common, in. physique ; yet I must now say, that 
apart from mere conventional finish, I find quite as large a pro- 
portion of aristocratical looking females among you as if you 
had a full share of duchesses. The last thing I should think 
of calling an American woman, would be coarse. She may 
want manner, in one sense ; she may want finish in a dozen 
things ; she may, and often does, want utterance, as utterance 
is understood among the accomplished ; but she is seldom, in- 
deed, coarse or vulgar, according to our European understand- 
ing of the terms." 

" And of what is all this a j^ropos, Bulstrode ?" 

"Oh! of your success, and my defeat, of course. Corny," 
answered the major, smiling. "What I mean, is this— that 
Anneke is one of your second class, or is better than what 
fiishion can make her ; and Scrub has been the means of my 
undoing. She does not care for fashion, in a play, or a novel, 
or a dress even, but looks for the proprieties. Yes, Scrub has 
proved my undoing!" 

I did not exactly believe the last ; but finding Bulstrode so 
well disposed to give his rejection this turn, it was not my part 
to contradict him. We talked together half an hour longer, in 
the most amicable manner, when we parted; Bulstrode promis- 
ing not to betray the secret of my presence. 

I lingered in sight of the house until evening, when I ventured 
nearer, hoping to get a glimpse of Anneke as she passed some 
window, or appeared, by the soft light of the moon, under the 
piaaza that skirted the south front of the building. Lilacsbnsh 
deserved its name, being a perfect wilderness of shrubbery ; and 
favored by the last, I had got quite near the house, when I 
hoard light footsteps on the gravel of an adjacent walk. At 



500 SATAN STOE. 

the next instant, soft, low voices met my ears, and I Avas a sort 
of compelled auditor of wliat followed. 

"No, Anne, my Me is sealed for this world," said Mary 
"Wallace, " and I shall live Gucrt's widow as faithfully and 
devotedly, as if the marriage-vow had been pronounced. This 
much is due to his memory, on account of the heartless doubts 
I pennitted to influence me, and which drove him into those 
terrible scenes that destroyed him. When a woman really 
loves, Annekc, it is vain to struggle against any thing but posi- 
tive unworthincss, I fear. Poor Guert was not unworthy in 
any sense ; he was erring and impulsive, but not unworthy. No 
— no — not unworthy ! I ought to have given him my hand, 
and he would have been spared to us. As it is, I can only live 
his widow in secret, and in love. You have done well, dearest 
Anneke, in being so frank with Corny Littlepage, and in avow- 
ing that preference which you have felt almost from the first 
day of your acquaintance." 

Although this was music to my cars, honor would not suffer 
me to hear more, and I moved swiftly away, stirring the bushes 
in a- way to apprise the speaker of the proximity of a stranger. 
It was necessary to appear, and I endeavored so to do, without 
creating any alarm. 

" It must be Mr. Bulstrode," said the gentle voice of Annekc, 
*' who is probably looking for us — see, there he comes, and we 
will meet " 

Hie dear speaker became tongue-tied ; for, by this time, 
I was near enough to be recognized. At the next instant, I 
held her in my arms. Mary Wallace disappeared, how or when, 
I cannot say. I place a veil over the happy hour that succeeded, 
leaving the old to draw on their experience for its pictures, 
and the young to live in hope. At the end of that time, by 
Aniieke's persuasion, I entered the house, and had to bravo 
Ilerman Mordaunt's disposition to rally me. I was not only 
mercifully, but hospitably treated, however, Anneke's father 
merely laughing at my little adventure, saying, that he looked 
upon it favorably, and as c sign that I was a youth of spirit. 



S A T A N S T O 15 . 



501 



Early in October we were married, tlie Rev. Mr. Wordeu 
performing tlie ceremony. Our home was to be Lilacsbush, 
whicli Herman Mordaunt conveyed to me the same day, leaving 
it, as it was furnished, entirely in my hands. He also gave uie 
my wife's mother's fortune, a respectable independence ; and 
the death of Captain Hugh Roger soon after, added consider- 
ably to my means. We made but one family, between town, 
Lilacsbush and Satanstoe — Anneke and my mother, in particu- 
lar, conceiving a strong aifection for each other. 

As for Bulstrode, he went home before the marriage, but 
keeps up a correspondence with us to this hour. He is still 
single, and is a declared old bachelor. His letters, however, 
are too light-hearted to leave us any concern on the subject; 
though these are matters that may fall to the share of my son 
Mordaunt, should he ever have the grace to continue this family 
narrative. 







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